Design and tensile properties of aluminum borate whiskers reinforced aluminum composite with low whisker volume fraction

ZnO was firstly coated on the surface of aluminum borate whiskers (ABOw) by sol–gel. Then, ZnO-coated ABOw was added into soybean slurry to make a preform with low volume fraction and the preform was sintered at high temperatures to obtain a sufficient strength. ABOw reinforced aluminum composite (ABOw/Al) was fabricated by squeeze casting. Interfacial microstructures, tensile properties, and fracture mechanisms of the ABOw/Al composite were investigated. The results show that the coating of ABOw and the addition of soybean sacrificial filler can effectively decrease the volume fraction of whiskers in the composite. The ultimate tensile strength of composite has not changed much with the decrease of whiskers volume fraction in the composite. However, the elongation to fracture of the composite evidently increases and it can reach 11.1% at room temperature.