Effect of coating parameters on coating morphology of basalt short fiber for reinforcement preparation of al/basalt metal matrix composites

Abstract

The interface between the matrix and reinforcement plays a crucial role in determining the properties of metal matrix composites (MMC). Coating of the reinforcement is an important technique by which the interfacial properties can be improved. In this work, weight deposition of copper coating on short basalt fibers was carried out by electroless method. The electroless process used to deposit the copper coating onto the basalt fiber relies on a sequence of sensitization time, activation time and metallization time and these parameters need to be optimized to know the amount of coating thickness. These parameters considered for optimization process are evaluated for different time intervals. An electroless method of coating on basalt fiber with copper deposition is described. The effects of time of sensitization on coating thickness, effects of time of activation on coating thickness and effect of time of metallization on coating thickness on basalt fiber are studied. Using this method it is possible to deposit up to about 25 wt copper on the basalt fiber with an average coating thickness about 0.1050 to 0.115 μm. We conclude that the role of electroless copper coatings applied on short basalt fibers on the interaction between an aluminium alloy and coated fibers have to be studied to get useful information for the fabrication of basalt fiber reinforced aluminium matrix composites by liquid or semi-liquid processing. The resultant composite fiber was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) during and after the coating process. © 2013 by ESG