Interfacial Behaviors of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymeric Composites: A Short Review

Basalt fibers (BFs) have emerged as a promising thermal insulation material for various applications, such as fireproof clothes/walls and protective equipment in military and civil engineering. BFs have many desirable characteristics, such as low thermal conductivity, excellent flame resistance, exceptional mechanical strength, facile manipulability, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, the low intrinsic interfacial properties of BFs due to their chemical inertness and macro-scaled sizes have been a challenge for high performance of BFs-reinforced polymeric composites (BFRPs). Since the mechanical properties of BFRPs significantly depend on the interfacial interaction between the fibers and the matrix, it is critical to understand how incorporating BFs influences the properties of the composites. To this end, the aim of this review is to report on recent research progress with emphasis on the interfacial behavior in BFRPs. The relationships between the fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion and the mechanical properties of the BFRPs are briefly described with systematic and up-to-date surface modification techniques summarized into two categories: surface modifications (“wet” and “dry”) and multi-scaled structures. Finally, several strategies for increasing the interfacial adhesion of BFs within the polymeric matrix to provide new ideas and insight for future research on the BFRPs are discussed. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].