Exploring the Potential of Basalt/Polypropylene Composites

As sustainability becomes a crucial aspect of materials science, the focus on bio-based alternatives is growing, and basalt fibers fit perfectly in this context, being excellent candidates to replace traditional synthetic fibers such as glass fibers. Their combination with polypropylene (PP), the most widely used thermoplastic polymer in the automotive sector, allows to obtain composites characterized by excellent mechanical properties, durability and resistance to environmental factors, making them ideal for applications in the automotive industry.

A recent study, published by the Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment at Sapienza University of Rome on “Materials Today Sustainability” (Issue 27, September 2024), delves into the mechanical recycling of basalt/polypropylene (PP) composites, shedding light on their thermal and mechanical properties as a function of the number of reprocessing cycles through various analytical techniques, including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA).

The Role of NETZSCH Thermal Analysis Instruments

We introduced the activity of the research group at the University of Rome in a previous Customer Success Story: an interview with Prof. Jacopo Tirillò, one of the co-authors. On this occasion, Prof. Tirillò already presented some DSC and DMA results on basalt-based composites.

In this more recent publication carried out in the framework of the European Union - NextGenerationEU project of the National Sustainable Mobility Center, Spoke 11 - Innovative Materials & Lightweighting, which involves Prof. Fabrizio Sarasini as Work Package (WP) leader of the WP5 focused on polymers and Dr. Claudia Sergi as Fixed term researcher (RTDA), the methods exploited contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the thermal and mechanical properties of basalt/PP composites, particularly in relation to their behavior after multiple reprocessing cycles.
 

More in details:

• DSC was used to determine the Melting Temperatures and EnthalpiesThe enthalpy of fusion of a substance, also known as latent heat, is a measure of the energy input, typically heat, which is necessary to convert a substance from solid to liquid state. The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from solid (crystalline) to liquid (isotropic melt).melting temperature and Crystallinity / Degree of CrystallinityCrystallinity refers to the degree of structural order of a solid. In a crystal, the arrangement of atoms or molecules is consistent and repetitive. Many materials such as glass ceramics and some polymers can be prepared in such a way as to produce a mixture of crystalline and amorphous regions.crystallinity of the PP matrix, providing insights on how each reprocessing cycle affects these thermal properties,
• TGA results helped understand the thermal degradation characteristics and how these change with increasing reprocessing cycles,
• DMA revealed how the mechanical properties evolve with reprocessing, and the importance of both the fiber length and fiber orientation in determining the performance of these materials.

Curious to learn more about the detailed findings and implications of this research? Download the full paper, "Basalt-Based Composite Materials: Today’s Sustainability," available in open access. Discover how these innovative composite materials can contribute to a more sustainable future!

More about the Thermal and Mechanical Analysis Methods

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  Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC/DTA)
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  Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA)
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  Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA)