The investigation of basalt fiber reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) compositess' mechanical properties

In this study, a series of thermoplastic polymer based composite materials were produced by compression moulding method. Polylactic acid (PLA) and chopped basalt fiber were used as matrix materials and reinforcement in composites. The experimental specimens which machined from composite materials at different fiber contents, treatments and sizes were used to determine mechanical and physical properties of composite materials such as density, tensile strength, impact strength, percent elongation, elasticity modulus. Also, fracture surfaces of tensile test specimens were examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was observed that the mechanical properties of composites increased with the fiber size, fiber treatment and increasing fiber weight fraction,. The mechanical properties of composites decreased when fiber was added more than 45 %. On the other hand, it was found that elasticity modulus of composite materials increased with the increase of fiber volume fraction. As a result of this work, it was determined that the composite material which has 45 % weight fraction and fiber treatment has the best mechanical properties.