Preparation and Characterization of Zirconia-Network Film Formation on Fibrous Substrates by Sol-Gel Processing

合成纤维广泛用于复合材料。它们已被考虑用于水泥加固。然而，硅酸盐网状玻璃与水泥发生反应，水泥呈强碱性（PH值12.5）。因此，为了提高这种应用的纤维的化学稳定性，开发了更昂贵的含有氧化锆的玻璃纤维。PI建议使用玄武岩纤维进行水泥加固。玄武岩是一种天然存在的相对廉价的材料，广泛用于制作玄武岩纤维。为了提高玄武岩纤维的化学稳定性，PI提出采用溶胶-凝胶法制备二氧化硅-氧化锆薄膜。这与其他研究人员在使用玻璃纤维时采用的合金化路线形成对比。应用和方法都是新颖的。工业界对这项工作以及玄武岩纤维的其他应用表示了浓厚的兴趣。

Synthetic fibers are used extensively in composite materials. They have been considered for reinforcement in cement. However, the silicate network glass reacts with cement, which is strongly alkaline (PH 12.5). Consequently, more expensive glass fibers containing zirconia were developed for improved chemical stabiliity of the fibers for this application. The PI proposes to use basalt fibers for cement reinforcement. Basalt is a naturally occurring relatively inexpensive material widely available in the drawing basalt fibers. To improve the chemical stability of basalt fibers, the PI proposes to form thin films of silica-zirconia by sol-gel processing. This is in contrast to the alloying route other researchers have taken in the use of glass fibers. Both the application and approach are novel. Industry has expressed strong interest in this work as well as other applications of basalt fibers.