Polydopamine-modified basalt fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites with enhanced mechanical properties

Inspired by the exceptional adhesion properties of mussels, basalt fibers (BF) were modified with polydopamine (PDA) and incorporated into polypropylene (PP) resin to develop high-performance composites. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to evaluate how basalt fiber concentration and polydopamine treatment influence the structural performance of composite materials. Experimental data demonstrate substantial enhancement in mechanical characteristics corresponding to higher fiber loading levels. When basalt fiber loading reaches the optimal 6wt% concentration, the composite demonstrates substantial mechanical enhancement, exhibiting 120.2%, 282.2%, and 66.2% improvement in tensile, flexural, and impact resistance respectively, relative to neat polypropylene. Additionally, polydopamine surface treatment provides further reinforcement of these structural characteristics. When contrasted with the unmodified composites that have 6wt% BF, the PDA - modified composites demonstrate further enhancements. Specifically, the tensile strength increases by 16.1%, the flexural strength goes up by 9.3%, and the impact strength rises by 22%.