Effect of Coating Parameters on Coating Morphology of Basalt Short Fiber for Reinforcement Preparation of Al/Basalt Metal Matrix Composites

摘要

The interface between the matrix and reinforcement plays a crucial role in determining the propertiesof metal matrix composites (MMC). Coating of the reinforcement is an important technique by whichthe interfacial properties can be improved. In this work, weight deposition of copper coating on shortbasalt fibers was carried out by electroless method. The electroless process used to deposit the coppercoating onto the basalt fiber relies on a sequence of sensitization time, activation time andmetallization 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. Anelectroless method of coating on basalt fiber with copper deposition is described. The effects of time ofsensitization on coating thickness, effects of time of activation on coating thickness and effect of timeof metallization on coating thickness on basalt fiber are studied. Using this method it is possible todeposit up to about 25 wt% copper on the basalt fiber with an average coating thickness about 0.1050to 0.115 m. We conclude that the role of electroless copper coatings applied on short basalt fibers onthe interaction between an aluminium alloy and coated fibers have to be studied to get usefulinformation for the fabrication of basalt fiber reinforced aluminium matrix composites by liquid orsemi-liquid processing. The resultant composite fiber was characterized by scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) during and after the coating process.