An aluminum borate whisker-reinforced aluminum matrix composite with high plasticity

A pure aluminum matrix composite reinforced by ZnAl₂O₄-coated Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ whiskers was fabricated by a squeeze casting technique. The effect of ZnAl₂O₄ coating content on the wettability between whiskers and matrix, the ultimate tensile strength and elongation to fracture of the composite were investigated. The results show that the interface wettability and the ultimate tensile strength increase with increasing the coating content. The coating content remarkably affects the elongation to fracture of composites. When the mass ratio of ZnO and ABOw is 1:30, the elongation to fracture of the composite can reach 7.9% at room temperature.