Fiber Weight Fraction Research Articles

Impact of textile types and their hybrids on the mechanical properties and thermal insulation of mohair-reinforced polyester Composite laminates

Mohair fibres from animals are a great choice for people who care about the environment. They have low toxicity, are abundant in raw materials and don't pose any health risks. However, when compared to synthetic fibres, their mechanical performance is not as good. Mohair fibres are best suited for low to medium load applications, such as car parts, agricultural equipment, sports equipment and household items. Despite their excellent properties, there is still a lot we don't know about mohair textile-reinforced polyester composites. The novelty of this study is testing different mohair fibre textiles to see which one provides the best characteristics. The three most commonly used locally-made mohair fabrics (woven, knitted and pressed mat) were selected as reinforcement in polyester resin. Nine different laminates of similar and hybrid layers were made by hand lay-up in a closed mold at a constant fibre weight fraction (number of layers), mold pressure, curing time and temperature. The results showed that the composite laminate of mat fabric reinforced polyester provides the maximum tensile strength, elongation, flexural strength and thermal insulation of 22 MPa, 2.2 %, 54.6 MPa, 0.27 J and 0.012 m2°C/W, respectively. Meanwhile, the woven laminate exhibited the highest impact strength of 0.27 J and the hybrid laminates of the mat and woven fabrics offer satisfactory strength of 0.25 J.

Effect of fabrication process on the microstructure and mechanical performance of carbon fiber reinforced PEEK composites via selective laser sintering

Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (CF/PEEK) composites via selective laser sintering (SLS) are highly promising technologies for the fabrication of polymer-based components with excellent mechanical behavior. In order to further enhance the performance of SLS-CF/PEEK composites, the mixed CF/PEEK powders are designed and CF/PEEK composites are fabricated via SLS under different fabrication process parameters. The effect of laser power, layer thickness, paving speed, fiber weight fraction, and fiber length on the microstructure and mechanical performance along the powder spreading direction is investigated for SLS-CF/PEEK. The results show that the failure strength of 117 MPa is achieved while the layer thickness of 0.08 mm is adopted. Moreover, the fiber weight fraction of 15% is proven to be suited during the fabrication of SLS-CF/PEEK. The maximum failure strength is better than the results of SLS-CF/PEEK with the fiber weight fraction of 10%, and the average elastic modulus reaches 8400 MPa, which is the best result among those published works. In addition, it is found that the correlation between the failure strength and paving speed is non-monotonic, and the higher strength is obtained when the longer carbon fiber is used. Different from the distinct trends in failure strength, the sensitivity of modulus is much less obvious for SLS-CF/PEEK. This work provides guidance for the printing of high-strength CF/PEEK composites.

Hygrothermal coupled modeling and behavior analysis of natural fiber-reinforced tubular composites

The mechanical properties of natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs) are susceptible to the coupled effect between environmental temperature and humidity. However, the coupled system for the heat and moisture field in NFRCs remains unclear. In regard to this, this paper presents hygrothermal coupled modeling of natural fiber-reinforced tubular composites (NFRTCs), considering the correlation between natural fiber aggregation, matrix contents, and porosity. The transient hygrothermal field and distribution in NFRTCs are predicted using the differential quadrature method. The predicted results are verified by the comparison with the experimental data in the literature. Through the proposed model, the effect of hygrothermal coupling, boundary conditions, fiber aggregation, porosity, and structural dimensions on the hygrothermal responses and distributions are analyzed in detail. The results show that temperature and moisture fields decrease significantly when the hygrothermal coupling or the hygrothermal convection boundary condition is used. In addition, hygrothermal field distributions gradually decline with the increasing fiber weight fraction, outer-to-inner radius ratio, and porosity coefficient, as well as the smaller fiber aggregation parameter. These results can serve as a guideline for the design and manufacturing of reliable NFRTCs subjected to hygrothermal environments.

Machine Learning Models in Drilling of Different Types of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites.

The aim of the research presented in this paper was to simulate the relationship between selected technological drilling parameters (cutting speed, vc, and feed per tooth, fz) and cutting forces and the delamination in machining of a new glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite. Four different types of new materials were manufactured with the use of a specially designed pressing device and differed in the fiber type (plain and twill woven materials) and weight fraction (wf) ratio, but they had the same number of layers and the same stacking sequence. A vertical machining center Avia VMC800HS was used for drilling holes with a two-edge carbide diamond coated drill. Measurements of the cutting force Fz in the drilling process conducted with variable technological parameters were carried out on a special test stand, 9257B, from Kistler. The new ink penetration method, involving covering the drilled hole surface with a colored liquid that spreads over the inner surface of the hole showing damage, was used to determine the delamination area. The cause-and-effect relationship between the drilling parameters was simulated with the use of five machine learning (ML) regression models (Linear Regression; Decision Tree Regressor; Decision Tree Regressor with Ada Boost; XGBRF Regressor; Gradient Boosting Regressor). Gradient Boosting Regressor results showed that the feed per tooth had the greatest impact on delamination-the higher the feed was, the greater the delamination became. Push-out delamination factors had higher values for materials that were made of plain woven fibers. The lowest amplitude of the cutting force component Fz was obtained for the lowest tested feed per tooth of 0.04 mm for all tested materials, with the lowest values obtained for the materials with twill fibers.

Effects of fibre weight fraction on the mechanical properties of bio-Composite reinforced with Alfa fibres: Experimental and numerical investigation

This study is dedicated to conducting a comprehensive examination, both experimentally and numerically, to characterize the mechanical properties of a composite material composed of Alfa fibres and unsaturated polyester resin. In pursuit of this objective, we diligently prepared composite specimens in accordance with the ASTM D3379-75 standardization. The Alfa fibres used were prepares using a purely natural-based extraction technique, which retains approximately 78% of the composite's performance achieved through chemical treatment. The resulting composite consists of polyester resin reinforced with varying weight fractions of fibres, ranging from 0 to 18%.The test results of the manufactured bio-composite show that specimens with an 18% weight fraction offer a tensile strength of 49.749 MPa, whereas specimens with a 10% weight fraction exhibit a strength of 44.312 MPa. Additionally, the specimens with 18% fibre reinforcement exhibit a net increase in Young's modulus by 46% compared to the fibre-free composite, with Young's modulus ranging from 1469.66 MPa to 2726 MPa. When compared with composites based on fibre glass, the introduced bio-composite with 18% Alfa fibres exhibits similar stiffness to that of glass fibres. Additionally, the outcomes from the Finite Element Model (FEM) reveal a remarkable agreement with the experimental data, underscoring the practical applicability of the proposed methodology and tools for accurately simulating tensile tests in composite structures.

An experimental investigation of flame retardancy and thermal stability of treated and untreated kenaf fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract Natural fiber reinforced polymeric composites perform poor in mechanical and thermal properties at elevated temperatures due to the cellulose and hemicellulose contents of natural fiber start degrading at elevated temperature. In this research work, flame retardancy and thermal stability of treated and untreated kenaf fiber reinforced epoxy composites have been experimentally investigated and reported. Two composite laminates, one with 6 % NaOH Alkali treated and another with untreated woven kenaf mats, were fabricated by hand lay-up technique followed by compression molding with 40 % fiber weight fractions. Flame retardancy test and various thermal characteristics studies such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), heat deflection temperature (HDT), and morphological analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were carried out. The results showed that alkali treated kenaf fiber composite achieved V0 fire retardancy grade. The major weight losses, 86 % and 75.5 % for untreated and treated composites respectively were recorded between 300 °C and 450 °C. 13.6 % increase in HDT was noted for treated composite with 0.25 mm deflection at 0.45 MPa pressure condition. Thus the composite laminate with 6 % NaOH alkali-treated kenaf fiber achieved the best thermal stability with less degradation which is more suitable for automobile and aerospace applications.

Mechanical analysis of sisal fiber/bio-epoxy/fly-ash reinforced hybrid composites

This research investigates the mechanical characteristics of a novel hybrid composite material, which combines bio-epoxy reinforced with sisal fiber and integrated with fly ash nano-fillers. The study focuses on exploiting the environmentally friendly attributes of natural fiber composites and reducing reliance on synthetic materials. In this study, sisal fiber serves as the reinforcement, and a bio-epoxy matrix is utilized to create the composite. To further enhance its properties, fly ash, a byproduct of coal-fired power plants, is incorporated as a nano-filler. The experimental findings reveal significant improvements in the mechanical properties of the composite due to the inclusion of fly ash nano-fillers. The tensile strength shows a notable enhancement of up to 6.3%, flexural strength experiences an impressive increase of 68%, impact strength demonstrates a remarkable boost of 28%, and scratch hardness elevates by 17% which were all achieved at 20% fiber weight fraction and 5% fly ash weight fraction. The considerable potential of this hybrid sisal fiber reinforced bio-epoxy composite, integrated with fly ash nano-fillers, as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic composites is evident from these results. Such enhancements make the composite suitable for a wide range of engineering applications, including the manufacturing of automotive components, construction materials, and consumer goods. By adopting this bio-composite, industries can actively contribute to sustainable practices while maintaining optimal performance in their products. This research offers valuable insights into a promising solution for eco-conscious engineering applications, with both quantitative and qualitative evidence demonstrating the achievement of superior mechanical properties in this innovative hybrid material.

Experimental Investigation on Effect of Weight Fraction of Sisal Fiber on Mechanical Properties of Sisal-E-Glass Hybrid Polymer Composites

Currently, hybridizing natural fibers with synthetic fiber is considered as the best solution for reducing the environmental pollution and the cost of materials. This is due to the lower mechanical properties and high water absorption capacity problems of natural fiber reinforced composites and nonbiodegradability and high-cost problem of synthetic fibers that can be solved by hybridizing them. This article aims to investigate the influence of the weight fraction of the sisal fiber on the mechanical property of the E-glass-sisal fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composite. The sisal fiber was treated by 8% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for three hours. The samples of five different weight fractions of fibers (0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 60%) with a constant weight fraction of epoxy matrix (40%) were prepared as per the ASTM standard prepared by the manual hand layup method at room temperature. The tensile, compression, and flexural tests of the samples were carried out on the WP 310 universal testing machine. From the experimental results, it has been observed that the increasing weight fraction of the sisal fiber greatly influences the mechanical properties (tensile, compression, and flexural) of E-glass-sisal hybrid reinforced epoxy matrix composites. From all the tested samples, those consisting of 60% E-glass and 0% sisal fibers with 40% epoxy matrix showed better mechanical properties than other hybrid samples with tensile, compressive, and flexural strengths of 464.03 MPa, 40.1 MPa, and 239.06 MPa, respectively.

Flexural and impact response of bamboo and pineapple leaf fiber reinforced composites using experimental and numerical techniques

The flexural and impact response of completely biodegradable natural composites, specifically bamboo and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) reinforced composites, is investigated using a combination of experimental and simulation techniques. The flexural strength and bending modulus are determined through 3-point bending tests while varying the weight fraction of the selected natural fibers from 5 to 15%. The impact of alkaline treatment at different percentages of 2 to 10% on the same properties such as flexural strength and bending modulus is also investigated. Subsequently, simulation techniques are employed to determine the behavior of the natural composite materials under bending loads. Finite element models are utilized to analyze the normal, and shear stresses in the composite structures. The research findings unveiled that incorporating a 10% weight fraction of bamboo fiber along with an 8% NaOH treatment led to the most significant enhancement in flexural strength, showcasing a notable advancement of 111.02%. Within the PALF fiber reinforced composite, employing 2% NaOH treated PALF fiber at a 15% weight fraction yielded an impressive improvement of 125.6%.

Mathematical Model for the Assessment of the Effect of Fiber Content on the Mechanical Properties of Phenolic Composite Reinforced Date Palm Fiber

AbstractThis work presents the preparation process of composite from date palm fibers and Phenolic as a matrix by compression molding. The composites are prepared with a different weight fraction of fiber from 40 to 60 wt%. The enhancement of the mechanical properties is related to the good interaction and adhesion between the filler and the matrix which is estimated by analyzing the mechanical properties of the produced composite using diverse mathematical models as Hirsch, Pukanszky, and Schrager. The results reveal that the fiber loading has a great influence on the improvement of Young's modulus and tensile strength of the Phenolic compared to the neat Phenolic. The results also show that the Hirsch model is valid for the evaluation of the elastic modulus of treated date palm fibers (TDPFs) Phenolic (PH) composites with R2 = 0.97. Regarding the evaluation of the tensile strength of Phenolic composites, it appears clear that the Pukanszky and Schrager models are adaptable for the UDPFs/PH composites. However, the Pukanszky model is not suitable for the TDPFs/PH composites.

Synthesis and characterization of PET impregnated agro-medical waste: Novel approach for plastic substitute using hybrid composites

Composites are environmentally friendly materials made from natural fibers that have lightweight properties and improve the performance of synthetic parts. Medical waste has been identified as one of the biggest challenges recently in India due to COVID-19. More than 70% of medical waste is considered non-hazardous waste, obtained from crushing used surgical face mask (SFM) and surgical gloves (SG) as reinforcement materials chosen in this study. The research aim is to increase the strength and minimize the cost of production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) matrix by employing hybrid waste fibers as particle reinforcement particles. Five fiber composites of 3% to 12% weight fractions of hybrid fiber (Kevlar Fiber/Glass fiber) and a constant 10% medical waste were fabricated using an injection moulding process to regulate the polymer structure and determine its thermal conductivity. Adding fibers improved mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, and impact strength. TGA and thermal conductivity were analyzed. Tribological characteristics like a specific wear rate and coefficient of friction were conducted. Morphology is used to identify material behaviour by applying different weight fractions. Adding 9% (KF/GF) and 10% (SFM/SG) particles improves the wear and mechanical properties of the hybrid composite by 52%, respectively. Adding medical and fiber waste particles will improve the interfacial bonding between the matrix material and fillers. It is widely used as a leaf spring in ballistic and automobile applications suspension.

Experimental study on the flexural, hardness, and tensile properties of pineapple and jute fiber-reinforced composite with SiC nanoparticles

This scientific investigation delves into the effects of minuscule particles created from a mixture of silicon and carbon, known as SiC nanoparticles, on the flexural, hardness, and tensile properties of composites made from fibers obtained from pineapple and jute. The researchers used a manual layering technique to make these composites, by blending varying amounts of fibers and SiC nanoparticles. Then proceeded to subject the composites to a series of tests to determine their resistance to bending, strength, and ability to bear tensile forces before breaking. The findings of the research reveal that the inclusion of SiC nanoparticles in the composites made from pineapple and jute fibers led to a significant improvement in their mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, and toughness. The composites made using a greater proportion of fibers and nanoparticles exhibited the most substantial strength and stiffness. The addition of SiC nanoparticles also contributed to an increase in the composites' hardness, with the jute fiber composite displaying more improvement than the pineapple fiber composite. In terms of tensile strength and toughness, the composites with higher weight fractions of fibers and SiC nanoparticles displayed superior performance, with the jute fiber composite outperforming the pineapple fiber composite. These results suggest that utilizing SiC nanoparticles in composites made from natural fibers like pineapple and jute holds promise for producing premium quality materials that could serve multiple industries. Nevertheless, further studies are essential to refine the fabrication process and evaluate the long-term durability and performance of these composites. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of using natural fiber-reinforced composites with nanoparticles to create sustainable, high-performance materials.

A comparative study on the mechanical properties of African teff and snake grass fiber-reinforced hybrid composites: effect of bio castor seed shell/glass/SiC fillers

Abstract The environmental awareness and sustainable nature of plant-based fibers have forced material researchers and automakers to use natural fibers instead of petroleum-based fibers for various industrial applications. The need for environmentally and biodegradable fibers has created a demand in the transportation industry. In this study, bio castor seed shell (C), glass fiber (G), and SiC (SC) fillers in a constant weight fraction (10 %) were reinforced separately with varying weight fractions (5–25 %) of African teff and snake grass fibers to improve the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites. Both African teff and snake grass fibers were subjected to alkaline treatment to remove amorphous elements such as hemicellulose, lignin, and wax, resulting in high surface roughness. The hybrid composites were fabricated by the compression molding technique and their mechanical properties were characterized as per ASTM standards. The fractured surface of the treated fiber was examined by scanning electron microscopy. From the results, it was found that SC10SG20AT showed maximum mechanical properties compared to C10SG20AT and G10SG20AT due to higher load-bearing capacity of SiC filler. Therefore, SC10SG20AT can be recommended for lightweight applications.

Experimental study on mechanical properties of material extrusion additive manufactured parts from recycled glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene composite

This paper presents an optimised material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing method with feedstock produced from glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (GFRPP) composite waste and investigates the effect of glass fibre weight fraction (0%, 15%, 30%, 40%) on the printability and mechanical properties of filaments and printed specimens. GFRPP feedstock filaments were fabricated by optimising the filament extrusion process parameters. The highest ultimate tensile strength (112 MPa) was obtained in a filament with 40% fibre weight content. In addition, repeated recycling of filament was shown to reduce the fibre aspect ratio and enhance the filament quality. It was shown that the increase in glass fibre content from 0% to 40% improved the ultimate tensile strength of MEX 3D printed specimens from 14.7 MPa to 23.4 MPa as well as the flexural strength of MEX 3D printed samples from 11.68 MPa to 66.55 MPa. The increase in fibre weight content from 30% to 40% had a minimal effect (+1%) on the ultimate tensile strength of the printed samples. In addition, the 40% filaments exhibited a more brittle behaviour, rendering them less suitable for MEX 3D printing than 30% GFRPP. The results showed that waste industrial GFRPP material can be effectively enhanced and converted to short fibre reinforced material extrusion filament feedstock for the printing of components as a circular economy demonstrator.

Effect of Void Content on the Mechanical Properties of GFRP for Ship Design

Defects such as voids in composite materials often degrade the mechanical properties of laminates. Even if these materials are manufactured based on the design requirements, there is a possibility of instability occurring in these composite structures. In this study, several prototypes were developed based on changes in composite ship design conditions (glass fiber weight fraction and fabric combination type) using a hand lay-up approach. The fabrication quality was quantitatively defined using the burn-off test, and statistical analysis was performed. A combination of chopped strand mat and woven roving material laminates possessed relatively less void content in the entire glass content (Gc) region (30–70 wt%) compared to a chopped strand mat single-material laminate. The effect was more pronounced in the high-Gc region (50–70 wt%) than that in the normal-Gc region (30–50 wt%). The composite hull plate can be designed seamlessly according to changes in fabrication quality. To ensure safety, the thickness of the laminate must be greater than that specified in the ISO standards, regardless of the combination type in the normal-Gc region. As a result of the void content considered, the flexural strength in the single laminate decreased by 15.02%. Furthermore, 3.33% of the flexural strength calculation decreased in the combined laminate compared to that in the ISO rules. Thus, a single CSM material can be designed to be thicker than a combined-material laminate with the same Gc, while considering the void content on the mechanical properties.

Estimating the Tensile Strength Properties of Plantain Fiber Ash Particulate and Silumin using Box-Behnken Design.

This study utilizes response surface methodology (RSM) to estimate the engineering parameters of PFAP/silumin composites. The tensile strengths of the developed composites were evaluated using a Box-Behnken design (BBD), considering factors such as weight fraction, particle size, soaking time, plantain fiber ash particulate concentration, and silumin. The results indicate that the weight fraction of fibers has the greatest influence on tensile strength, with interaction effects being more significant than linear and quadratic effects. The predicted tensile strengths of the PFAP/silumin composites, obtained through RSM, closely matched the experimental values, validating the reliability of the software. The range of predicted tensile strengths was found to be 44.66 MPa to 64.05 MPa, while the obtained experimental values ranged from 40.31 MPa to 75.98 MPa. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the BBD method in quickly obtaining optimum values of tensile strength for PFAP/silumin composites. Furthermore, this research highlights the promising potential of utilizing waste materials in the automotive industry, particularly in East Africa. Keywords: Response surface methodology (RSM), Natural fibers, Hybrid composites, Tensile strength Agro-waste, Cellulose fiber, Box-Behnken design (BBD), Automotive industry.

Simulation of heat transfer and effectiveness in a helical heat exchanger made from thermally enhanced polymer material for use in absorption cooling

Heat exchangers in absorption chillers are usually made of copper material. However, prob-lems of corrosion are usually encountered, especially in the solution heat exchanger. In this study a numerical investigation of the heat transfer effectiveness in a double pipe helical heat exchanger made from a thermally enhanced polymer material was conducted. The material consists of a Liquid crystal polymer (LCP), (Vectra A950) as the matrix material, while carbon fibre is the filler material. The resulting composite has a carbon fibre weight fraction of 74%. The heat exchanger was modelled as a counter flow solution heat exchanger to be used in a lithium bromide – water absorption chiller of 3 kW capacity. The numerical software ANSYS fluent (version 14.5) was used for the modelling and simulation. Thermal and mechanical properties of the thermally enhanced polymer were used in the modelling and simulation. The viscous laminar model was used, while employing a second order upwind solution method. Results indicate that the heat exchanger was able to perform the required duty by reducing the strong solution temperature from 90oC at inlet to 57oC at outlet, while increasing the weak solution temperature from 40oC at inlet to 67oC at outlet. The effectiveness of the heat ex-changer was 77.4%. Results were numerically compared to a corresponding heat exchanger of same geometry and flow conditions, made of copper. It was observed that the polymer heat exchanger attained 89.2% effectiveness of the copper heat exchanger.

New perspective on the creep characteristic of fiber–dependent shape memory polymers: variable–order fractional constitutive model

With the aim of describing and explaining the creep tensile property of shape memory polymers (SMPs) better, a variable--order fractional creep constitutive model with fewer parameters and good simulation performance was constructed on the basis of existing constitutive models. The consists of a Hookean spring connected in series with a Newtonian dashpot was employed to propose a new variable--order fractional Maxwell model for SMPs. Drawing support from the Laplace transform, we derive the analytical solution of this novel model. The verification of the obtained theoretical results with the creep test data for different fiber weight fractions and stress levels available from the literature reveals their satisfactory agreement. It can be concluded that the developed variable--order fractional constitutive model can better describe the complex viscoelastic relationship of shape memory polymers which is difficult to be described by the classical integer order derivative, and obtain a more accurate constitutive model of shape memory polymers with fewer parameters.

Evaluation of tensile properties of Meriz fiber reinforced epoxy composites using Taguchi method

In recent years, there has been a surge in the use of natural fiber polymer-based composites in various engineering fields due to their numerous advantages, including lower environmental pollution, ease of processing, high strength, and biodegradability. This study employed the Taguchi method to experimentally and statistically examine the effects of various fiber parameters on the tensile strength of a locally developed natural fiber-epoxy composite. The natural fiber used in the study was “Meriz,” a type of goat hair woven into the traditional Kurdish costume known as “Shall.” The fiber parameters examined included fiber orientation angles, weight fraction, form, and color. The results indicated that the tensile strength of the composite was improved by 100% when using the Meriz fiber with certain orientation angles, weight fraction, form, and colors, namely 0°/90°, 10 wt%, Shall, and brown, respectively. The analysis of variance also revealed that the fiber form had the most significant impact on tensile strength, contributing 40.74%. Confirmation testing demonstrated good agreement between the experimental and statistical data. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to assess the interfacial bonding between the fiber reinforcement and the matrix and to analyze the fracture surface of the specimens with the highest and lowest tensile strength. The results indicated that the specimen with the highest tensile strength had excellent interfacial bonding compared to the specimen with the lowest tensile strength.

Understanding the effect of basalt fibres on the structure and physical and mechanical properties of aluminium alloy AK9

This paper looks at a composite material based on Al – Si alloy of grade AК9 that was produced by mechanical stirring and reinforced with 1 and 2 wt % of basalt fibres. The paper describes the results of a study that looked at the structure and phase composition of the basalt fibres introduced. It is shown that heat treating basalt fibres at the temperatures of up to 600 oC does not change their phase composition. The authors examine the microstructures of the initial cast alloy AK9 and the alloy reinforced with basalt fibres; look at the relationship between the structure obtained after introduction of basalt fibres and the physical and mechanical properties of the alloy; carried out a fractography study of the fracture surface in reinforced alloy specimens following a series of tensile tests. The authors analyzed how reinforcing effect is achieved when basalt fibres are introduced in the aluminium alloy AK9. The experimental data indicate that the introduction of basalt fibres in the aluminium matrix significantly enhances the mechanical performance of the alloy compared with the initial alloy AK9. Thus, the tensile strength and ultimate strength rise by 40 to 55 % compared with the initial alloy, whereas the hardness rises by 20 to 35 % depending on the weight fraction of basalt fibres in the alloy.This research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation under Governmental Assignment No. FSWM-2020-0028. The studies (optical and electron microscopy, tensile tests, hardness and microhardness tests, study of phase composition) were carried out using the facilities of the Tomsk Regional Shared Knowledge Centre, a part of the National Research Tomsk State University. Support for the Centre is provided by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation under Grant No. 075-15-2021-693 (No. 13.ЦКП.21.0012).