Mechanical properties of partially pyrolysed composites with plain weave basalt fibre reinforcement

The process of partial pyrolysis was used in the manufacture of composite materials with improved thermal resistance. As reinforcement, basalt plain weave fabric was employed. For the production of the investigated composites, two variants of the matrix precursor polymethylsiloxane or polymethylphenylsiloxane resins – were used. In order to find favourable mechanical properties of the developed materials, several pyrolysis processes differing in the achieved maximum temperature were tested. Flexural strength, Young׳s modulus, shear modulus, fracture toughness, the temperature dependence of Young׳s modulus and of creep were measured. The microstructure of the composites was studied by light microscopy and by SEM. The composite with methyphenylsiloxane precursor exhibits favourable mechanical properties after final pyrolysis temperatures in the range of 650–750 °C. In the case of the composite with polymethylsiloxane matrix precursor, the best mechanical properties were achieved by pyrolysis terminated at 650 °C.