Industry: "BasKer", the new fireproof material for transport and construction

"BasKer" (basalt+ceramic) is a new basalt fiber reinforced ceramic, used for exhaust pipes, heat shield, panels and fireproof doors for aerospace, military and sports applications.

This material stands out for light weight, thermal insulation, high temperature and fire resistance. Security and sustainability complete the profile because it was obtained by exploiting industrial waste - low costs - thanks to production costs comparable to polymer composites - and efficiency - due to lighter vehicles, lower fuel consumption and environmental impact.

"Claudio Mingazzini, ENEA - Faenza highlighted that polymer composites are smart materials to lighten vehicles but cannot operate at higher temperatures, such as those next to the internal combustion engine or the risks of fire, typically batteries". "Introducing an inorganic reinforced basalt material is the best approach to guarantee light weighting, performance and safety for these applications, the exhaust pipes and fire-resistance doors". BasKer” is a basalt reinforced ceramic material, characterized by a polymeric matrix composite, able to combine thermostructural properties up to 700°C, low specific weight at 2 g/cm3 characterized by production costs similar and in perspective lower to those of a polymeric matrix composite, fire resistance and thermal insulation capacity up to 1200 C. Besides BasKer, pilot plants for the manufacture of semi-finished products (prepreg) and components have been made focusing on basalt felts from pyrolysis.

In this perspective, the project will develop optimized geopolymer materials for thermostructural molds and fire resistant porous insulating materials, using different types of industrial wastes.  In addition, the project will study end-of-life solutions for materials and the Life Cycle Assessment of materials and processes.  Claudio Mingazzini concluded by stating that "although the pyrolysis production process is intrinsically energy consuming, these composites can cut energy consumption and enhance security in a whole series of applications on transport and construction; as a result, industrial production could hopefully be adopted in a short time".

BasKer was developed by the EEE-CFCC project (Economically and Ecologically Sustainable Evolution to develop fiber-reinforced ceramic composite materials for applications) coordinated by ENEA, funded by the Emilia-Romagna Regional Policy ROP ERDF 2014-2020, which also involved other research centers of the Emilia Romagna high technology network such as CNR-ISTEC, CERTIMAC, CIRI MAM (University of Bologna), ROMAGNA TECH (ex CENTURIA) and industries such as, CURTI Costruzioni Meccaniche S.p.A., Riba Composites srl, Tampieri Energie and EDILTECO Group.

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For further information:

Claudio Mingazzini, ENEA, claudio.mingazzini@enea.it