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Why Basalt Fabric Becomes the Preferred Material in the Field of Special Functional Fabrics
In fields with strict material performance requirements such as fire protection, environmental protection, and outdoor equipment, basalt fabric has gradually become the preferred choice for special functional fabrics due to its natural properties and multi-functional advantages. Its core advantages stem from the dual characteristics of raw materials and craftsmanship: the raw material is derived from natural basalt ore, which is melted and drawn into fibers at a high temperature of over 1500℃ without adding chemical additives. This not only gives it environmental protection properties but also endows the fabric with excellent high-temperature resistance and flame retardancy—even in a short-term high-temperature environment of 800℃, it can still maintain structural stability and is not easy to burn or produce toxic gases. At the same time, the tensile strength of basalt fibers is far higher than that of ordinary chemical fibers, even close to that of carbon fibers. The fabric made from them is tear-resistant and wear-resistant, and can withstand physical impacts under complex working conditions. In addition, basalt fabric also has good acid and alkali corrosion resistance and UV aging resistance. In industrial acid-base environments and outdoor strong sunlight scenarios, its service life is 2-3 times that of traditional fabrics. From the perspective of application cost, the raw materials for basalt fabric production are easily available, the processing process is relatively simple, and the cost is lower than that of carbon fiber fabrics. However, it can achieve nearly the same high performance. Therefore, it has both practicality and economy in the field of special functions and has become an ideal choice to replace traditional fabrics.
Application of Basalt Fabric in Fire-fighting Clothing and Testing of High-temperature Resistance
Fire-fighting clothing has extremely high requirements for the high-temperature resistance of protective fabrics. Basalt fabric, with its excellent heat resistance, has become an important material for the core protective layer of fire-fighting clothing. In application, basalt fabric is usually compounded with flame-retardant cotton and waterproof and breathable membranes to form a “three-layer protective structure”: the outer basalt fabric resists external high-temperature flames and sparks, the middle flame-retardant cotton blocks heat transfer, and the inner waterproof and breathable membrane ensures the comfort of firefighters when wearing. Its high-temperature resistance needs to be verified through strict testing. Common testing standards include high-temperature ignition testing: place the fabric sample in a 1000℃ flame for 10 seconds, and after removing the flame, observe whether the fabric continues to burn (high-quality basalt fabric should extinguish immediately), and the damaged area of the fabric should be less than 5cm². At the same time, measure the temperature on the back of the fabric to ensure that the temperature rise does not exceed 25℃ to avoid heat burning the skin. Another key test is heat shrinkage testing: place the fabric in a constant temperature environment of 200℃ for 2 hours, and after cooling, measure the changes in its length and width. Qualified basalt fabric should have a heat shrinkage rate of less than 1% to prevent the fire-fighting clothing from shrinking and deforming in a high-temperature environment, which affects the movement of firefighters. Only through these tests can basalt fabric ensure reliable protection for firefighters in fire rescue scenarios.
Comparative Analysis of Corrosion Resistance Between Basalt Fabric and Glass Fiber Fabric
Although both basalt fabric and glass fiber fabric belong to inorganic non-metallic fabrics, there are significant differences in their corrosion resistance, which directly affect the selection of their application scenarios. In terms of acid resistance, when the two fabrics are soaked in 5% hydrochloric acid solution and placed at room temperature for 72 hours, the weight loss rate of basalt fabric is only 0.8%, the fabric structure remains intact, and the tensile strength decreases by no more than 5%; while glass fiber fabric, due to its alkali metal oxides, easily reacts with acid, resulting in a weight loss rate of 3.5%, a tensile strength decrease of more than 15%, and obvious pulverization on the fabric surface. In the alkali resistance test, when the fabrics are soaked in 10% sodium hydroxide solution, the weight loss rate of basalt fabric is about 1.2%, and the strength retention rate reaches more than 90%; glass fiber fabric, however, reacts with alkali to form sodium silicate due to silicon dioxide, resulting in a weight loss rate of 4.2%, a strength retention rate of only 70%, and the fabric is prone to brittleness and fracture. In strong corrosion scenarios such as industrial acid-base wastewater treatment and chemical workshop filtration, basalt fabric has obvious advantages in corrosion resistance, and its service life is 1.5-2 times that of glass fiber fabric, making it more suitable for long-term use in harsh corrosive environments.
UV Resistance and Maintenance Strategies of Basalt Fabric Outdoor Tents
Outdoor tents are exposed to strong UV environments for a long time, and the fabric is prone to aging and embrittlement. However, the UV resistance of basalt fabric makes it an excellent choice for outdoor tent fabrics. Basalt fiber itself does not contain organic components that are easily decomposed by UV rays. The fabric made from it has a tensile strength retention rate of more than 85% under UV irradiation (simulating 1000 hours of exposure), which is much higher than that of ordinary polyester tent fabrics (with a strength retention rate of about 60%). Moreover, the fabric color does not fade significantly and there is no cracking on the surface. To further extend the service life of the tent, scientific maintenance strategies should be adopted: after daily use, clean the dust and stains on the tent surface in a timely manner. You can gently wipe it with clean water dipped in neutral detergent, and avoid scrubbing hard with a brush to prevent damage to the fabric surface structure; before storage, ensure that the tent is completely dry to avoid mold growth on the fabric due to a humid environment (although basalt fabric is corrosion-resistant, mold will affect the waterproof performance of the composite layer); when not in use for a long time, fold the tent and store it in a cool and dry place, avoid direct sunlight, and take it out for ventilation regularly to check for signs of aging on the fabric. In addition, if there is a small area of damage on the tent fabric, a special basalt fabric patch and high-temperature resistant glue can be used for repair to restore the protective performance.
Process Optimization for Filter Efficiency of Basalt Fabric Industrial Filter Bags
Industrial filter bags need to achieve efficient filtration in high-temperature and high-dust environments. Through process optimization, basalt fabric can further improve the filtration efficiency to meet the needs of industrial dust removal. In the raw material link, select thinner basalt fibers (such as 5-8μm). The fabric made of fine fibers has more uniform pores and can effectively intercept tiny dust particles (with a particle size of more than 0.5μm); in the spinning stage, adopt compact spinning technology to reduce yarn hairiness, make the fabric surface flatter, and reduce dust penetration rate. In terms of weaving technology, double-layer twill weaving is used. Compared with ordinary plain weaving, the fabric porosity is increased by 10% while maintaining high strength, which not only ensures smooth air circulation but also improves dust interception capacity. The finishing process is the key: through “PTFE coating” treatment, a microporous structure is formed on the fabric surface. This structure can prevent dust from adhering without affecting air permeability, reducing the probability of filter bag blockage; then “heat setting treatment” is carried out to stabilize the fabric size, prevent the filter bag from shrinking and deforming during high-temperature filtration, and ensure the stability of the filtration area. After these process optimizations, the filtration efficiency of basalt fabric industrial filter bags can reach more than 99.9%, and the dust cleaning cycle is extended by 30%, reducing the operating cost of industrial dust removal equipment.
Flame Retardant Performance Adaptation of Basalt Fabric in Baby Car Seats
Baby car seats have strict requirements for the flame retardant performance of interior fabrics. Basalt fabric, with its natural flame retardant properties, has become an ideal choice for car seat fabrics, but its flame retardant performance needs to be accurately adapted to safety standards. First of all, the flame retardant performance must comply with the safety specifications for baby products: cut the fabric sample according to the standard size, ignite it with a flame for 10 seconds, then remove the flame. The fabric should self-extinguish within 3 seconds without molten drips (to avoid scalding the baby), and the flame spread length should be less than 10cm to prevent the fire from expanding. Secondly, the smoke density and toxic gas emission of the fabric must meet the standards: burn the fabric in a closed environment and measure its smoke density rating (SDR). High-quality basalt fabric should have an SDR of less than 20, and no toxic gases such as formaldehyde and cyanide are released during combustion, ensuring that secondary harm to the baby is reduced in the event of a fire. In addition, the softness of the fabric needs to be adapted to the baby’s skin: basalt fabric itself is relatively hard, so it is necessary to improve the touch through “softening finishing process” (such as silicone oil soaking) to ensure that the fabric surface is smooth and free of burrs, and the friction coefficient is less than 0.3 to avoid scratching the baby’s delicate skin. Only when the flame retardancy, safety and comfort requirements are met at the same time can basalt fabric be safely applied in baby car seats.
