Fibre/matrix intermetallic phase formation in novel aluminium-basalt composites

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 239; pp. 128 - 131
• Main Authors: Adole, Onuh, Barekar, Nilam, Anguilano, Lorna, Minton, Timothy, Novytskyi, Aleksander, McKay, Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.03.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Basalt; Basalt fibres; Cast; Intermetallic compounds; Intermetallic phases; Intermetallics; Iron; Load transfer; Manganese; Materials science; Metal matrix composites; Metallic composites; Microstructure; Modulus of elasticity; Morphology; Silicon compounds; Wear resistance; Cast; Intermetallics; Microstructure; Metallic composites; Basalt fibres
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2018.12.079

[Display omitted] •Basalt fibres have shown reinforcement potential for metal composite development.•Al matrix-basalt fibre interaction form α-Fe intermetallics at the interface.•This chemical interaction influences the morphology of these intermetallics.•Overall improvement in composite performance over the reference alloy is observed. A novel aluminium-basalt metal matrix composite has been produced by employing a combination of stir mixing and ultrasonication processing techniques. A study of the matrix-fibre interface has revealed the formation of Al-Si-Ca and Al-Fe-Si-Mn intermetallic compounds (IMC) with both phases displaying a polyhedral morphology. The new composite exhibited a tensile strength of 189 MPa, resulting in a 13% improvement over the monolithic Al alloy. A 22% increase in yield strength and a 33% increase in wear resistance were also achieved, although the flexural and elastic moduli remained unchanged. It is proposed that these IMCs assist in load transfer from the matrix to the fibres.