Basalt fibers for polymeric composites and nanocomposites—ecologically benign reinforcements for future sustainable technologies

For today’s technological deployments, increasing scientific curiosities have been noticed for designing high performance natural fibers (e.g., basalt fibers) based hybrids as economical, ecological, and sustainable substitutes of carbon/glass/aramid fibers derived engineering structures. Based on these facts, present review is planned to unfold the potential of basalt fibers, polymer/basal fibers composites and nanomodified nanocomposites. Initially, fundamentals of basalt fibers and their composites with polymer matrices (epoxies, polyamides, poly (vinyl alcohol), poly (ethylene terephthalate), poly (lactic acid)) have been reviewed. Afterwards, design, characteristics, and performance of polymer/nanoparticles/basalt fibers nanocomposites have been deliberated. In due course, various polymer/basalt fibers nanocomposites categories developed with carbonaceous (graphene, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, carbon nanotube) and inorganic nanoparticles (nanoclays, silica, titania) have been presented. As per literature to date, for nanocomposite formation, nanoreinforcements have been included as additives, fiber surface modifiers, coupling agents, etc., by using a number of ways such as chemical vapor deposition, dip coating, solution/chemical routes, and sizing methods. Adding basalt fibers and nanomodified basalt fibers in polymeric systems have competently upsurged the tensile, flexural, or compression strength/modulus, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, friction/wear resistance, nonflammability, radiation absorption, chemical stability, and surface functionalities for ion/molecular adsorption/interactions. Fabrication approaches of polymer/basalt fibers composites/nanocomposites include in situ method, solution route, melt blending, curing, hand lay up technique, injection molding, resin transfer molding, extrusion, and three dimensional printing. Prominent application areas of polymer/nanoparticles/basalt fibers nanocomposites include radiation shielding, mechanically resilient engineering structures, fire proofing, tribological potential, and water remediation. Nevertheless, comprehensive future investigations need to be performed for exploration of optimized nanomodification, interfacial mechanisms, and structure-property-performance of basalt fibers based nanocomposites.