Fabrication of continuous carbon-fibers reinforced aluminum matrix composites and coating evolution during heat treatment

Abstract

The nickel (Ni) was coated onto carbon fibers (CFs) through an electroplating process to enhance the infiltration of aluminum (Al) matrix to fiber. Moreover, these continuous CFs reinforced Al matrix (CF/Al) composites were fabricated via a twin-roll casting method. Here, the effects of rolling speed, pouring temperature and solidification times on the morphologies of CF/Al composites were discussed. The results show that the rolling speed of 4 rad/min provided excellent integrity between reinforcement and matrix. Moreover, solidification times of 60 s offered an effective balance between the heat transfer and infiltration. Furthermore, pouring temperature of 700 °C was advantageous to infiltrate Al matrix into fibers. In addition, the influence of heat-treatment time on coating evolution and property of the materials were discussed through microstructure evolution, phases composition and mechanical property tests. The results confirmed that composites with outstanding mechanical properties were acquired at the temperature of 600 °C for 160 min in a tube furnace. Hence, it is concluded that the twin-roll casting approach has great application prospects in the fabrication of CF/Al composites with high tensile properties.

Keywords

• Continuous carbon fibers
• Aluminum matrix composites
• Twin-roll casting
• Heat treatment
• Coating evolution
• Mechanical properties