Basalt fibre reinfored HDPE for wave energy converters

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This project addresses the renewable energy theme, with the objective of establishing the technical feasibilityof basalt fibre reinforced High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as a material for the primary structure of an oceanwave energy converter (WEC). HDPE offers a low cost structural material that is resistant to UV, corrosion andbiofouling increasing the lifetime and reducing the maintenance requirements for a wave energy converter.While fibre reinforced HDPE has been previously investigated, the use of basalt fibres is innovative and offerssuperior properties compared to a standard E-glass which is commonly used in fibre composite manufacture.Basalt fibre is also chemically inert and when combined with recycled HDPE potentially offers a highperformance, low cost, green structural material for WEC's. The project will develop a suitable composition forthe material that provides improved mechanical properties over unreinforced HDPE while retaining exitingadvantages of the material when used in the ocean environment.