Fracture resistance of partially pyrolysed polysiloxane preceramic polymer matrix composites reinforced by unidirectional basalt fibres

Abstract Two kinds of composite materials reinforced by long unidirectional basalt fibres varying in the matrix type were studied. The first type of matrix material was prepared by application of partial pyrolysis of polysiloxane preceramic resin at a temperature of 650 °C. The second type of matrix material was utilised from cured only polysiloxane and/or epoxy resin and served as reference materials. The advantages of partially pyrolysed composites at elevated temperatures were described recently but the direct comparison with generally used polymer-based composites was not explored deeply. Therefore, both representative materials were characterised with the aim to determine similarities and differences in the fracture processes. The microstructural, elastic and fracture properties were also examined. The fracture resistance was obtained in two typical directions, i.e. along and across the fibres. The fractographic analysis together with fracture characteristics revealed strong and weak aspects of both types of composite materials.