Corrosion of uncoated and oxide-coated basalt fibre in different alkaline media

Highlights: • Alkaline corrosion of uncoated and coated basalt fibre in alkali media was studied. • Degradation of the fibre involves the dissolution of alumosilicate network in alkali media. • Insoluble shell from iron and calcium hydroxides and carbonates is formed. • Zirconia and titania coatings slow down the corrosion of basalt fibre significantly. - Abstract: The corrosion behaviour of the zirconium dioxide and titanium dioxide coated basalt fibre in sodium and calcium hydroxide solutions was studied. The morphology, elemental, phase composition of fibre before and after exposure to alkaline media was examined by different analytical techniques. It was shown that the oxide coatings slow down corrosion, and zirconium dioxide slows down corrosion of basalt fibre to a higher extent than titanium dioxide. The morphology and composition of solid corrosion products depend on a type of alkaline medium. The schemes of corrosion for the uncoated and coated basalt fibres in alkaline media were proposed.