Basalt Fibers

Basalt fibers are becoming more popular for various structural engineering applications. Global production capacity is increasing. There was a lot of experience with this material in the Soviet Union, where basalt fibers were used mostly for military applications. Ex-Soviet countries are still the place where most of the experience and production capacity is (Ukraine in particular). Given that the Soviet Union disintegrated almost 20 years ago, much of this information should be in the public domain now, but may not be so easily accessible.

External Links

• Detailed background article about the material: http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/basalt-fibers-alternative-to-glass
• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt_fiber
• More background, here with wind energy in mind: http://windgateenergy.com/?page_id=16

Recent video from the Monolithic Dome Institute, mentions basalt fibers:

Some links to suppliers

• http://www.apparelsearch.com/basalt_fiber_directory_and_baslt_fibers_guide.htm
• http://www.technobasalt.com/
• http://www.basaltfm.com/eng/nav/materials.html
• http://www.sudaglass.com/
• There is also a German-Georgian company, apparently the only manufacturer of basalt fibers in Europe: http://www.deutsche-basalt-faser.de/

Will it scale down ?

Let's not kid ourselves, this is a high-tech, difficult process. Not all basalts work, and the material has to be heated up to 1,400°C (2,550°F). This all sounds very capital intensive. Still, this can potentially be made to work on the small scale, and the fibers could displace some steel and even carbon fibers.

Product Ecology

• Biogas -- methane from biogas can be used to heat the basalt.
• Gasifier -- alternatively, syngas can be used for melting.
• Induction Furnace -- can melt glass, so it should also be able to melt basalt.
• Waste heat -- many uses:
  • in cold climates, for heating winter greenhouses, other space heating
  • drying biomass for pyrolysis and biochar
  • steam generation