Preparation and Properties of Self-Healing and Flame-Retardant Functionally Integrated Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Resin Matrix Composites

Fiber-reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites (FREPC) are often limited in practical applications due to crack failure and combustion damage. In this study, a self-made DA adduct DOPO-FU-BMI in coordination with furfuryl amine (FA) was introduced into the epoxy resin matrix DGEBA, and basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites with both self-healing and flame-retardant dual functionality were prepared through hot compression molding. The results show that the DA adducts are uniformly distributed in the composites and improve the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the composites. The crack healing of composites was realized through reversible Diels-Alder (DA) reaction, and the strength retention rate of the composites is as high as 92.5% after two impact-healing cycles with the addition of DA adducts at a level of 20%. Simultaneously, the composites take advantage of the flame retardant properties of basalt fibers (BF), and by introducing the DA adducts, the flame retardant properties are further enhanced, with the limiting oxygen index (LOI) up to 44.5%, which is 25.4% higher than that of the unmodified composites. © 2024 Sichuan University. All rights reserved.