Basalt Fiber Reinforcement in Concrete Systems

Basalt fibres, derived from rapidly cooled volcanic rock, offer a unique combination of high tensile strength, chemical inertness and thermal resistance that makes them ideal for reinforcing cementitious matrices. When dispersed within concrete, these slender fibres bridge microcracks, distribute stresses more uniformly and reduce brittleness, leading to enhanced tensile and flexural performance while maintaining or slightly improving compressive strength. The inherently alkaline environment of concrete does not corrode basalt fibres, and their thermal stability contributes to improved fire resistance in structural elements. Research has explored optimal fibre lengths (typically 12–24 mm) and volume fractions (commonly 0.1–0.4%) to balance workability, mechanical gain and economic feasibility. Hybrid composites combining basalt with polypropylene or steel fibres further tailor post-crack toughness and energy absorption. At the microscopic scale, basalt fibres refine the interfacial transition zone by interrupting pore channels and fostering denser calcium-silicate hydrate formation, thereby enhancing durability against shrinkage, freeze–thaw cycling and chloride ingress. Practical applications range from industrial floor slabs and pavements to high-performance and self-compacting concretes, where the use of basalt fibre reinforces sustainability goals via its natural abundance and low embodied energy compared with synthetic alternatives.

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Basalt Fiber Reinforcement in Concrete Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in basalt fiber reinforcement in concrete systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Basalt fibre: Continuous or chopped filaments made by extruding molten basalt rock, used to reinforce cementitious composites.

Compressive strength: The maximum axial load per unit area a concrete specimen can sustain before failure in compression.

Flexural strength: The stress at which a beam or slab fails in bending, reflecting crack-resistance and toughness under load.

Interfacial transition zone (ITZ): The microstructurally distinct region around aggregate particles where cement paste properties differ from the bulk matrix.

Self-compacting concrete: A high-flow concrete grade that consolidates under its own weight without external vibration, often enhanced by fine particles and chemical admixtures.

References

1. Experimental Study on Basic Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete. Materials (2020).
2. Effect of Chopped Basalt Fibers on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (2014).
3. Corrosion Behavior and Mechanism of Basalt Fibers in Sodium Hydroxide Solution. Materials (2018).
4. The Effects of Fiber Length and Volume on Material Properties and Crack Resistance of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete (BFRC). Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (2019).
5. Fractal Dimension of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete (BFRC) and Its Correlations to Pore Structure, Strength and Shrinkage. Materials (2020).
6. Mechanical Properties and Freeze–Thaw Durability of Basalt Fiber Reactive Powder Concrete. Applied Sciences (2020).
7. Mechanical, Durability and Corrosion Properties of Basalt Fiber Concrete. Fibers (2022).
8. Mechanical properties and microstructure of nano-SiO2 and basalt-fiber-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete. Nanotechnology Reviews (2022).
9. Investigation the properties of sustainable ultra-high-performance basalt fibre self-compacting concrete incorporating nano agricultural waste under normal and elevated temperatures. Case Studies in Construction Materials (2022).
10. Flexural Toughness of High‐Performance Concrete with Basalt and Polypropylene Short Fibres. Advances in Civil Engineering (2018).
11. Study on the Fracture Toughness of Polypropylene–Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Concrete. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials (2021).