Use of reactive surfactants in basalt fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

Basalt fibers, similarly to other silicate fibers, can be introduced into both thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer matrices. In this work some basalt fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were investigated. The fiber-matrix adhesion was improved by commercial and non-commercial maleic anhydride derivatives. The latter types, called reactive surfactants, were prepared in laboratory scale and the progress of the syntheses was determined by Raman microscopy. The additives allowed performing reactive interface modification during the compounding process. Due to the interface modification with the additives in low concentration the mechanical properties improved. The boundary layers on the surface of the reinforcing fibers were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).