basaltweave

Basaltweave is a fabric made from basalt fiber, which is produced by melting basalt rock and extruding continuous filaments that are drawn into fibers. These fibers are woven on standard textile equipment into fabrics with common weave patterns such as plain, twill, or satin. Basaltweave is used as a reinforcement material in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites and in various structural and protective applications.

Properties of basaltweave derive from the underlying basalt fiber. The fabric offers high strength and stiffness with excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance. Typical basalt fiber properties include a density of about 2.6 to 2.9 g/cm3, tensile strength in the range of 2 to 4 GPa, and a modulus around 70 to 90 GPa. It remains stable at elevated temperatures, with continuous use around 550°C and short-term exposure up to 800–900°C. Basaltweave shows good resistance to moisture, UV light, and many chemicals, and it is generally non-corrosive with low electrical conductivity. Finishes or sizing can be applied to improve resin wet-out and interfacial bonding with different polymers.

Manufacture and processing involve producing basalt filaments from molten rock, then weaving them into fabrics. Basaltweave fabrics are commonly used as reinforcements in epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester, and other resins, as well as in thermoplastic composites, prepregs, and laminates. Their versatility supports applications across aerospace, automotive, wind-energy structures, marine components, construction reinforcements, and protective textiles.

Advantages of basaltweave include high-temperature performance, chemical and UV resistance, and a favorable strength-to-weight ratio. Limitations include higher cost and more limited supplier maturity compared with traditional fibers, along with the need for appropriate surface treatment to optimize bonding with certain resins.