Surface modification of basalt used for reinforcement of wood-based panels

Adding reticulated basalt fibres to wood-based panels as reinforcing materials can improve their strength-to-weight ratio and thus increase their material efficiency. This study investigates the effect of different surface modifications of basalt fibres on the adhesion with binders commonly used in the wood-based panel industry. The surface coatings used were an acrylate polymer, an ureido-silane and a combination of both in conjunction with urea-formaldehyde (UF), melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF), phenol-formaldehyde (PF), phenol-melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) and isocyanate-based prepolymer (pMDI) resins. The determination of the wide-width tensile strengths and peel resistance of a basalt plain weave showed that the combination coating increased the tensile strengths the most (107 kN m−1) and the adhesion with pMDI was the most effective (2.0 N mm−1). Scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the higher strengths might be due to the quality of the coating.