Excellent and effective interfacial transition layer with an organic/ inorganic hybrid carbon nanotube network structure for basalt fiber reinforced high-performance thermoplastic composites

Basalt fiber reinforced high-performance thermoplastic (BFRHTP) composites are promising materials for application in military, aerospace, chemical, automobile, and other high-tech industries. However, their me-chanical properties are still largely limited by poor interfacial properties because of the smooth, inert, and low -energy surface of BF. In this study, an organic/inorganic hybrid sizing agent was used for BF surface modification to construct an appropriate modulus transition layer for the interface with a combination of soft and rigid phases. Organic poly(ether nitrile) (PEN) and inorganic carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) in hybrid sizing agents (PEN/CNT) were respectively used as soft and rigid phases to design the interfacial struc-ture. The tensile strength, flexural strength, interlaminar and interfacial shear strength of the basalt fiber rein-forced poly(phthalazinone ether nitrile ketone) composites were increased by 60, 33, 62, and 144%, respectively. This approach provides a simple, green, and promising strategy for enhancing the interfacial properties of BFRHTP composites.