Abstract

Reducing the environmental impact of composite materials by using new matrices and fibres, as well as a manufacturing process that allows obtaining high-quality standards, is on the strategic agenda of academia and industry. Replacing thermosetting matrices with thermoplastics is a challenging vector for improvement, facilitating recycling. Regarding the fibres, natural fibres of mineral origin, such as basalt, reduce the ecological footprint in the raw material extraction phase. Characterising the impact behaviour of these new composites is necessary to identify potential applications. Otherwise, direct comparison with reference materials is essential since differences in the manufacturing process, fibre content, or test conditions make it impossible to put the new material in context. In this paper, we compared the impact properties of two thermoplastic-matrix (pCBT) composites manufactured using resin transfer moulding (RTM). On the one hand, as a reference material, the pCBT is reinforced with carbon fibres, and on the other hand, with basalt fibres. The results are better for the composite reinforced with basalt fibres, regardless of whether the properties are compared in absolute terms (×2.2), in weight reduction (×1.8) or in reduction of energy consumed during the primary production of the fibres (×4.4).