Basalt fiber

I've heard the great opportunity for boat building is basalt fiber. There are allot of info about this fiber here: www.b-composites.net. What do you think about that?

 

I see Bogen is using it for tripod legs. This is one of the biggest tripod manufacturers in the world.

 

http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/basalt-fibers-alternative-to-glass

Interesting but far too expensive to replace E glass on boats. The slightly better performances of basalt fibers, but higher weight, do not "reimburse" the higher cost. But it's very interesting in another applications.

 

It's more like S-glass so the pricing is not so different.. anyway what I've purchased..

 

From my limited understanding it looks like basalt is generally unsuitable for boats. The higher weight and added expense seem to make a poor substitute for glass, or carbon. Perhaps in places where it's heat resistance would be reasonable like fire proof doors, or engine rooms. Otherwise it seems better suited for industrial applications like concrete fiber reinforcement.

Perhaps the better youngs modulus could allow a thinner panel with the same stiffness resulting in a net weight savings, but I couldn't speek to that.

 

These guys are using it......
http://www.cantierealtoadriatico.it/barche_bis2009eng.php?A=2007&ID=49

These guys sell it and seem to claim mechanical properties similar to S-glass but at lower cost.......

http://www.basfiber.com/

 

These guys are using it too. http://www.africancats.com

I've got a few samples that I've worked with.

 

What about sail and boat parts not covered by gelcoat? Looks like basalt has much high resistance to salt water than regular fiberglass. http://b-composites.net/261.html

 

But it's used with resins and they do not stand as well against the elements so it gotto be covered with something anyway..

 

Basalt fibers are of little interest on boats at the actual prices. It's the same situation with S glass (who uses it seriously on boats except for marketing ? nobody...).
S glass was invented before the advent of better fibers for military uses where cost was (and is) of little importance. The gains of weight and better stiffness are marginal with S glass on sandwich hulls.
The ratio price/gains is simply not good.
Maybe with phenolic resins for high temp applications. Surely for small items like snowboards where "technical claims" are crucial for selling. The black aspect helps also as carbon fiber is used mainly for selling, not for engineering needs; basalt would be a good substitute...

 

Data talks.Tensile strength(Mpa) 3300-4500
Elastic modulus(Gpa) 95-115
Elongation at break(%) 2.4-3.0
Density(g/cm3) 2.65
Application temperature(℃) -260-650
Thermarl limit of application(℃) 900
Thermal conductivity(w/m.k) 0.031-0.038
Thermal Expansion ( 10-6/k) 5.5
Specific volume resistance(ohm.m) 1×1012
Coefficient of sound absorption(%) 0.9-0.99
Basalt fiber is not a novel material any more.we use it for the reinforce of concrete, rods,composite panel, used on the wind blade strengthening, road building, textile ,auto mobile mufflers, roof.etc.

 

Let's make it clear


"Quotation Sichuan Aerospace Tuoxin Basalt Industrial Co., LTD No.618 Chenglong RD,Longquanyi Dist,Chengdu city,Sichuan,China
"
Tel: 028-84874487 Fax: 028-84874032 Mob:008618981895349 Skype:leochina2011
E-Mail: onlineleo@126.com cdhttx@126.com WEB:http://www.basaltfiber.com.cn
MARKS＆NOS. PRODUCTS SPECIFICATIONS UNIT PRICE (USD/unit FOB Shang Hai Port)

TUO XIN Basalt fiber rebar ф4mm (Diameter) USD 0.25 /m
ф8mm (Diameter) USD 0.75 /m
ф10mm (Diameter) USD 1.3 /m
ф12mm (Diameter) USD 1.7 /m
ф14mm (Diameter) USD 2.23 /m
ф16mm (Diameter) USD 2.9 /m
ф19mm (Diameter) USD 3.8 /m
ф20mm (Diameter) USD 4 /m
ф22mm (Diameter) USD 4.8 /m
ф25mm (Diameter) USD 7.23 /m
ф29mm (Diameter) USD 8.77 /m
ф32mm (Diameter) USD 10.92 /m
Basalt fiber roving 13μm （800tex ） USD 2.85 /KG
13μm （2400tex） USD 2.77 /KG
11μm USD 3.88 /KG
9μm USD 4.85 /KG
Basalt fiber unidirectional cloth 260 g/㎡ USD 1.85 /㎡
300 g/㎡ USD 2.08 /㎡
360 g/㎡ USD 2.46 /㎡
380 g/㎡ USD 2.62 /㎡
Basalt fiber chopped strands 9μm(L:5-100mm) USD 5.23 /K
13μm (L:5-100mm,bulked) USD 3.23 /KG
13μm (L:5-100mm, not bulcked) USD 2.85 /KG
18μm(l:5-100mm) USD 2.38 /KG
25μm(L:5-100mm) USD 2.46 /KG
30μm(L:5-100mm) USD 2.08 /KG

Basalt fiber geomesh 5mm×5mm USD 1.25 /㎡
10mm×10mm USD 1.1 /㎡
25mm×25mm USD 1.05 /㎡
Basalt fiber needle mat 850 g/㎡ USD 18.46 /㎡
950 g/㎡ USD 21.54 /㎡
Basalt fiber cable ф18mm (Diameter) USD 3.08 /m

 

Anyone care to update this thread ?

 

Hard to find in retail and about 2-3 times the price of E glass. So for the while...