Salt‐Temperature Corrosion Resistance of BFRP and Load‐Carrying Capacity of Adhesive‐Riveted Hybrid Joints

ABSTRACT Coastal signboards are susceptible to salt spray corrosion. Coupled with elevated temperatures, the salt‐temperature induced corrosion and failure of metal signboards cause increased maintenance costs and safety issues. Basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) composite signboards connected to the aluminum (Al) support show superior corrosion resistance and mechanical stability compared to traditional Al plates and glass FRP laminates. However, salt‐temperature effects on tensile and flexural properties of BFRP laminates and load‐carrying capacity of adhesive‐riveted BFRP‐Al joints remain underexplored. This study investigates salt‐temperature effects on tensile and flexural properties of epoxy‐based BFRP (BFRP‐E) and unsaturated polyester‐based BFRP (BFRP‐U). BFRP‐E has better tensile and flexural properties than BFRP‐U. Stacking sequences of 0°/90° significantly improve the tensile and flexural strength compared to −45°/45° configurations. After 12‐week immersion in salt solution at 25°C, BFRP‐E exhibits 96% retention in strength. The load‐carrying capacity of BFRP‐Al joints is dependent on rivet numbers and stacking sequences, which are able to shift failure modes and improve ultimate loads. The four‐rivet joints improve the tensile loads by 30% compared to two rivets. These findings envision the viability of BFRP to mitigate environmental degradation for coastal infrastructure.