Study on mechanical properties and wear resistance of aluminum alloy composites reinforced by basalt fiber

Abstract

Abstract Basalt fiber is a new type of environmentally friendly materials with excellent performance in the 21st century. Basalt fiber (BF) reinforced aluminum alloy composites with different length-diameter ratios (200:1, 400:1), different volume fraction (1%, 4%, 8%) was fabricated by room-temperature pressing and vacuum sintering method. It was found that the BF treated with electroless copper plating on the surface enhanced the mechanical properties and wear resistance of the composites, while the BF without copper plating on the surface weakened the hardness. With increasing the volume fraction of BF with copper plating, the hardness and the wear resistance of the composites increased. The length-diameter ratio ∼400:1 is superior enhancement aspect ratio of 200:1 of the reinforcing effect.