Bending properties and fracture mechanisms of ZnO and ZnAl2O4 coated aluminium borate whisker reinforced aluminium composites

ZnO and ZnAl2O4 coated aluminium borate whisker (ABOw) reinforced pure aluminium composites were fabricated by squeeze casting. The effects of the coatings on the bending properties of the composites were investigated. On the analysis of fractographs, the fracture mechanisms of the composites under bending were also investigated. The results show that both ZnO and ZnAl2O4 coatings of ABOw can significantly increase the bending properties of ABOw reinforced aluminium composite. In ABOw/Al, ABOw/ZnO/Al and ABOw/ZnAl2O4/Al composites, the interface debonding, near interface fracture and near interface fracture and ABOw fracture dominate the fracture of each composite during bending respectively.