Effect of Fe2O3 Concentration on the Properties of Basalt Glasses

Basalt fiber as a type of reinforced material has been widely used in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Iron oxide (Fe2O3) has a great influence on the thermal and elastic properties of basalt fiber. In this study, ultrabasic, basic, and intermediate basalt rocks were chosen as raw materials and the dependence of Fe2O3 content variations on the properties of basalt glass was explored. Results showed that the density, molar volume (Vm), and oxygen packing density (OPD) of basalt glasses increased with the increase of Fe2O3 content. The viscosity, as well as crystallization behavior, is dominated by Fe2O3 content. Besides, the addition of Fe2O3 contributed to increasing the elastic modulus and hardness of basalt glasses.