Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

As a long-time expert in the field of sustainability constructions with profilin into on innovative materials including foam concrete reinforcement by basalt mesh, I would like to present the following statement. The reviewed manuscript describes an interesting topic in the field of innovative improvements of constructions by basalt products, but it needs significant improvements for its publication in the renowned journal Coatings. For this purpose, I would like to introduce the following requirements and recommendations.

Tittle

Advancements in Basalt Fibers Reinforced Composites: A Comprehensive Review ... I recommend changing the title of the article, presented interesting review I do not consider the comprehensive review from the aspect of spectrum of very broad and frequently solved research. It is also questionable whether this is only a review of basalt fibbers or other applications of basalt with construction too.

Abstract

From the aspect that most readers read the abstract first and then decide to read the entire article, I would like to recommend the following changes to the authors.

• I recommend expanding the abstract in terms of both scope and information. Standard abstracts are around 200 words; the reviewed abstract contains 123 words.
• The latest developments in the field of composites reinforced with basalt fibers are presented: coatings, concretes, bars, etc. ... I recommend specifying in more detail what kind of bars it is and to expand the sentence with other most used BF applications.
• The main advances in composite synthesis are highlighted, focusing on the integration of BF and its effects on abrasion, crack attenuation and resistance to high temperatures. ... I recommend indicating which composites it concerns to present and specific high temperature values.
• The review concludes by recognizing the potential applications of BFs reinforced composites in different sectors, demonstrating the promising prospects of this technology to provide stable and robust service solutions for structural parts. ... I recommend to specifically mention the sectors of interest and characterize the innovative applications of basalt products for them.

1. Introduction

The review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the properties, manufacturing processes, performance evaluations, applications, challenges, and future prospects of BF reinforced composites. ... as I have already indicated, for such a wide range of issues it is not possible to provide a comprehensive analysis of the properties, manufacturing processes, performance evaluations, applications, challenges, and future prospects of BF reinforced composites in one article.

Composites play a pivotal role in preserving the integrity and lifespan of various structures, ranging from marine environments to industrial machinery. ... this sentence must be restyled.

The constant evolution of composites technologies seeks to address challenges such as environmental degradation, high temperature and chemical exposure, and mechanical stress [9-12]. ... it would be appropriate to supplement the references related to this sentence, provide more detailed information from the mentioned articles, and assign separate citations.  Composite foam cocrete with basalt reinforcing mesh has found successful application in the construction industry of central Europe. in this context it is possible to cite Decky, M., Hodasova, K., Papanova, Z., & Remisova, E. (2022). Sustainable adaptive cycle pavements using composite foam concrete at high altitudes in central Europe. Sustainability, 14(15), 9034.

Glass fibers (GFs) share the similar chemical composition with BFs, but BFs have not been widely applied as compared with GFs.  ... in the recent period, both glass and basalt fibbers have been successfully used in the construction of asphalt pavement and their rehabilitations.

2. Properties of BF

Figure 1. Surface morphologies of (a) basalt fibers at low magnification and (b) basalt fibers at high magnification. (c) FT-IR spectrum of basalt fibers. (d) XRD spectrum of basalt fibers .Reprinted from Ref. [27] with permission from Elsevier. … I recommend replacing low and high magnification with specific numbers.

Figure 2. ... it would be appropriate to supplement the text description of the y-axis in Fig 2 d), or to describe this axis in the corresponding text.

BFs exhibit impressive tensile strength, making them suitable for applications where materials must endure significant pulling or stretching forces. ... what is the difference between pulling forces and stretching forces?

Table 2. The properties of glass and basalt fibers [34- 39]. Heat conductivity /w/(m·k) … incorrect physical unit writing format

Figure 3. Comparison of tensile, flexural and compressive between basalt and E-glass fiber compo sites of (a) Ultimate strength and (b) Young modulus. Reprinted from Ref. [40] with permission from Elsevier. …  E-glass fiber needs to be explained.

In Figure 4 a), or related text, it is necessary to describe or explain the abbreviation LVTD.

3. Effects in Composites

 Comparing traditional composites with those reinforced with BFs reveals significant differences in performance, durability, and application versatility.  ... I recommend adding a schematic diagram to this chapter, which will show: the considered industrial sectors of basalt composite applications, the considered composite materials will be specified for each sector and within them examples of traditional and innovative composites.  For the above materials, it is possible to state their form (fibers, reinforcing meshes, reinforcing bars, ...) and possibly basic dimensional characteristics.

Traditional composites often rely solely on the inherent properties of the composite material. ... I recommend giving representative examples for this statement.

Figure 5. The diagram of chopped basalt fibers to enhance the tribological properties of epoxy coat ing. Reprinted from Ref. [50] with permission from Elsevier. … the texts in some parts of the figure are illegible.

Figure 8 ... it is necessary to explain the abbreviations EF-BS, EF-B, EF-S, EF, C used in the figure or related text.

The 7-line sentence below figure 8 needs to be divided into multiple sentences, restyled, and the abbreviations KH570, KH550, and KH590 explained.

4. Applications in Industries and Limitation

 In civil and engineering field, the BF-based materials in the terms of sheets or laminates have been used for retrofitting and strengthening the structures in concrete and masonry [32]. ... shouldn't it be only civil engineering? If the civil and engineering field applies, it is necessary to add what kinds of engineering it is.

 ... and the interior silo of a ship have strict requirements on the fire-proof properties of the materials used in these spaces, according to ISO5659 ... it is necessary to add the above standard to the references.

The outputs presented in subsection 4.2. Limitation of Long-Term Durability should be abstracted and presented in a separate chapter Conclusions.

 5. Future Prospects

 The chapter would be appropriate to expand and then abstract credible facts from it into a separate chapter Conclusions. In this chapter or Conclusions, it is necessary to explicitly state which research activities were carried out in the subject area directly by the authors and what their direct research results were.

In conclusion, I would like to present that the manuscript has the potential for a good scientific article, but it needs significant improvements. It is necessary to revise the abstract and Introduction, add a separate chapter Conclusions and the scheme of the studied composites as already mentioned. It should be clearly stated which presented research results were found by the authors. At the very end, I would like to highlight the extremely high graphic quality of the images and also their informative value.

Due to a very detailed study of the manuscript and long-term research in the field of basalt reinforcing elements in the construction industry, I am able to process a repeated review within 3 working days.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The review, "Advances in Basalt Fiber Reinforced Composites: A Comprehensive Review," examines basalt fiber-reinforced composites (BFRCs), offering insights into their composition, properties, and applications across various industries. The importance of this topic has increased in recent years as more sectors—such as construction, transportation, and protective coatings—are seeking materials that are both sustainable and effective. The manuscript is presented in a clear and organized manner, and the reference list is extensive and up-to-date, covering sources from 2023 and 2024.

In my opinion, the article leans more toward summary than analysis. The authors rarely compare different perspectives or explore inconsistencies in the results. Adding a more critical analysis, in-depth comparisons, and clearer explanations would make the work more robust.

Specific Comments:

• The summary is too general.
• The introduction would be more valuable if it explained what distinguishes this review from previous ones, such as Monaldo et al. (2019) or the recent 2024 articles on polymer composites. A brief comparison would help explain why this work is needed.
• Organization and Readability: Section 2 – Consider adding a summary table comparing the main chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of basalt fibers with those of glass, carbon, and aramid fibers.
• Figures 1–4, although reused with permission from Elsevier, require new legends that align with the narrative of this review rather than simply repeating the original experimental descriptions. Currently, these legends can give the impression that the authors are presenting their own results.
• Furthermore, the review would be more valuable if it highlighted gaps or contradictions in the literature and engaged more deeply with the data, rather than simply listing various studies.
• Section 4.1 provides a detailed overview of industrial applications, but in a list format. It should include a summary table linking application area → environment → required properties → BF impact.
• Section 5 discusses standardization, but it focuses too much on Chinese standards. It would be worthwhile to expand this section to include international initiatives, including ASTM, ISO, or EU standards for basalt fiber composites. It is also worthwhile to discuss environmental issues and the potential of a circular economy, which is consistent with the concept of sustainable development.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. What is the novelty of the paper. It lacks a novel classification scheme.

2. The paper lacks comparative benchmarking, i.e. BFs against other fibers in terms of life-cycle cost and sustainability.

3. What specific advancements are presented and highlighted in the paper?

4. What methodological framework was used to ensure that the review is comprehensiveness?

5. Instead of reviewing knowledge trends or mapping correlations, the paper presents information as isolated examples.

6. The paper does not address new theoretical or numerical modeling and simulations.

7. The “finite element” study mentioned in past work is very limited and not updated.

8. The paper did not synthesize critical review with trends, gaps, and future ways.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I am pleased that the second version of the manuscript met my expectations for a quality scientific article. I would especially like to highlight the systematicity and quality of the incorporation of my recommendations. Requested revisions to the Abstract, Introduction, adding a separate chapter Conclusions I consider to be fully implemented. I would also like to appreciate the very detailed justifications for the changes made.

Based on the above statements, I would like to congratulate the authors on a very good scientific article and thank the publisher for the opportunity to expand my knowledge in the subject matter.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

After reviewing the revised manuscript, I conclude that the authors have satisfactorily addressed all submitted comments. The changes introduced improve the article's quality, both substantively and editorially. Therefore, I believe the manuscript, in its current form, meets the journal's requirements and is suitable for publication.