Reduced graphene oxide coating on basalt fabric using electrophoretic deposition and its role in the mechanical and tribological performance of epoxy/basalt fiber composites

Abstract

The interfacial bonding between the fiber and matrix plays a pivotal role in deciding the mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced composites. Basalt fibers, due to the absence of surface functional groups, do not interact potentially with the matrix and hence it leads to insufficient load-carrying capacity of the composite. Incorporating nanomaterials in the matrix and surface treatment of the reinforced fiber can improve the fiber-matrix interface. However, poor dispersion of nanomaterials and the complexity of surface treatment methods restrict their industrial applications. Coating nanomaterials directly onto the fiber surface has the potential to distribute the nanomaterials uniformly, along with strengthening the interfacial bonding between the fiber and matrix. In this study, graphene oxide was coated on the basalt fabric through electrophoretic deposition (EPD), and was further reinforced into the epoxy matrix. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of graphene oxide-coated basalt fiber using EPD on the mechanical and tribological performance of the composite. For comparison, epoxy/basalt composites and graphene oxide-coated epoxy/basalt composites were also prepared. Results showed that due to the improved fiber-matrix bonding and uniform distribution of graphene oxide, the coated basalt-reinforced composites showed better tensile strength and less wear loss.