Preparation of unidirectional carbon fiber preform for aluminium matrix composites

Abstract

The unidirectional carbon fiber (CF) preform for carbon fiber reinforced aluminium (CF/Al) composites has been investigated in terms of the fabrication condition and the strength property. The CF preform which consists of CFs and Cu particles was fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process with different fabrication temperatures. In order to determine the infiltration pressure of molten Al to the CF preform, the compression test was performed to the CF preform. The unidirectional CF preform by SPS process was well formed with the fabrication temperature condition at 1123 K in accordance with the formation of Cu particle bridging between fibers and Cu deposition on fibers. The compression strength of the CF preform increased with increasing fabrication temperature. Besides, the CF preform was deformed such as fiber micro-buckling or fiber kinking phenomena over the maximum compression strength. The infiltration pressure of the molten Al can be decided under the maximum compression strength. © 2011 The Japan Institute of Light Metals.