Basalt

Basalt can be used in manufacturing. That is, basalt can be made into fine and super fine fibers, composed from a single-ingredient raw material melt, ensuring superior characteristics. Basalt is a natural high quality raw material, which is not harmful for the environment. In contrast to many conventionally used fibers, basalt does not produce any toxic emissions during production and processing.
 

Special coatings are used to ensure a perfect synergy to varying synthetic materials. When basalt fibers are combined with carbon, ceramic or various types of metals, new hybrid composite materials and technologies are developed. This is the most advanced and exciting application area pertaining to composite materials. The reuse of chemicals impedes any air, land, and water pollution. Thus, production of basalt fibers is ecological and conforms to all safety standards.
 

Basalt fibers can be applied in a wide range of application areas, i.e. thermal and acoustic insulation, pipelines, beams, fabrics, structural synthetic materials, various car parts, reinforced concrete, insulating synthetic material or friction material to name a few.

Basalt fibers have a wide range of application areas due to their superior characteristics; excellent thermal, electric, and acoustic insulation. Basalt fibers are able to surpass and thus replace E-glass, R-glass, and S-glass in almost all applications. This is due to the fact that basalt fibers have much higher heat insulating values (up to three times higher). Further, basalt fiber's diameter can be controlled, ensuring that no harmful ultra thin fiber is produced.
 

High electric properties (ten times higher than E-glass) make basalt fiber a perfect material for printed circuit boards. Currently, conventional fiberglass components are being implemented, resulting in lower efficiency. Basalt fibers can be used in other electronic applications, for example, delicate insulation for electric cables and underground wires.
 

Presently, basalt fiber is being used as a fire barrier in fabrics, adhesive tapes, as well as for the production of automobiles, airplanes, ships, and household appliances (previously thermosetting resins were used, i.e. epoxy, polyester).
 

Possible applicable technologies include; pregrags, winding, printing press, and vacuum forming. Structural basalt composite parts (i.e. pipes and rods) are composed of unidirectional basalt reinforcements. Further, on the grounds of basalt's excellent specific stability (9.6 times higher than steel), high insulating and electric properties, special products can be manufactured, i.e. insulation for high voltage power lines.
 

Basalt composite material can be used to transport corrosive liquid material, whereby these composites can be produced in the same plants where fiberglass pipes are produced. However, basalt composite pipes are much stronger than those made of fiberglass.
 

Basalt fibers are not only able to keep up with traditional quality fibers, but in many instances exceed in the overall performance.

Basalt is used in various sectors. In the construction sector for example as follows:
 

• reinforcement scrims
  for facade cladding, gypsum or cement panel
   
• joints
  for wall-crack repair and wall-covering
   
• safe asbestos replacement
   
• technical textiles
  like fire curtains for fire protection and containment or wall laminate to enhance burn-through times to meet building regulation

In the engineered composite sector, Basalt fiber finds application like:
 

• mesh
  for road repair and soil stabilization
   
• fabrics 
  for aircraft parts and helicopter blades, for ice hockey sticks and windsurfers, for snowboards and boat hulls, for wind mill blades and car parts
   
• chopped strands
  as reinforcement for composites, polyester/epoxy resins and plastic

For the industrial equipment sector, Basalt is used as follows:
 

• fabrics
  for the reinforcement of abrasive grinding disks
   
• thermal insulationg covers and gloves
   
• carpet reinforcement
   

Basalt is also used in the automotive sector:

• chopped roving as reinforcement
  for composites used in automotive body panels and friction materials such as brake pads & linings
   
• filler
  to nonwoven veils (headliners)
   
• insulation shield
  in high temperatures
   
• high performance automotive muffler filler

Basalt in the chemical and oil processing industry:
 

• insulation material
  in chemically aggressive environments
   
• filter filler
  in chemically aggressive environments

In the electronic sector:

• fabric
  for printed circuit board