Synthesis of silicon carbide/aluminium tetroxycarbide nanofibres for reinforcement of glass matrix composites: Material properties

Silicon carbide/aluminium tetroxycarbide (SiC/Al4O4C) nanofibres were synthesized in a large-scale by current heating of pencil rods. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results confirm that the as-grown fibres consist of both SiC and Al4O4C phases with diameters ranging from 40 to 300 nm. The fibre-reinforced glass matrix composites were then prepared by a conventional glass melting method at the fibre/matrix ratio ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wt.%. The Knoop hardness of the composites increased with the fibre/glass ratio whereas the bending strength decreased due to the presence of high porosity and aggregated fibres.