Enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of basalt fibers through alkaline treatment and electroless copper deposition
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Basalt fibers (BFs) offer a sustainable alternative to conventional reinforcement materials, yet their inherent surface inertness limits their performance in advanced composites. Here, we demonstrate a novel approach to significantly enhance both the mechanical and electrical properties of BFs through controlled electroless copper (Cu) deposition facilitated by alkali pre-treatment. We reveal that potassium hydroxide (KOH) pre-treatment, compared to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), induces a specific surface modification on BFs, leading to improved Cu adhesion and uniform growth. This results in a 38 % increase in tensile strength (1766 ± 392 MPa at 50°C) compared to untreated BFs (1279 ± 301 MPa). Critically, the resulting Cu-coated BFs exhibit an electrical conductivity of 7.82 × 10⁷ S/m, surpassing that of commercial Cu (5.96 × 10⁷ S/m) and Ag (6.30 × 10⁷ S/m). At the optimal deposition temperature of 50°C, KOH-treated BFs achieved a density of 3.59 g/cm³ , significantly higher than the density of NaOH-treated BFs (3.26 g/cm³), but lower than that of Cu (8.96 g/cm³). The enhanced performance is attributed to the surface morphology induced by KOH, which promotes uniform Cu nucleation and growth. These findings establish KOH-treated, Cu-deposited BFs as promising candidates for high-performance composites, advanced electronics, and next-generation telecommunications, potentially enabling lighter, more efficient, and sustainable technologies for 5 G/6 G and beyond.
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,540
Awards: G757742563, G8215652222
OpenAlex ID: W4409784561