Influence of FeCrAl fiber on microstructure and mechanical properties of FeCrAl(f)/HA composites

FeCrAl fiber-reinforced hydroxyapatite (HA) biocomposites (FeCrAl(f)/HA) were fabricated by the hot pressing technique. The metallographic microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to observe and analyze the microstructure and composition of FeCrAl(f)/HA composites, respectively. The mechanical properties of FeCrAl(f)/HA composites were measured by the three-point-bending test. The results show that the composite can be reinforced by FeCrAl fiber and enhanced gradually, and then declined with the increase of the content of FeCrAl fiber (0-11%, volume fraction) in the whole range of experiments. Both the HA matrix and FeCrAl fiber integrate very tightly and bit into each other very deeply and counter-diffusion takes place to some extent at two-phase interface. The optimum parameters of FeCrAl(f)/HA composite are diameter of 22 μm, length of 1-2 mm and of volume faction of about 7% for FeCrAl fibers.