SHORT CARBON FIBER-ALUMINUM MATRIX COMPOSITE-MATERIAL PREPARED BY EXTRUSION OF POWDER MIXTURES

Unidirectional short carbon fiber/aluminum matrix composites have been prepared by hot extrusion of fiber/powder mixtures. Effects of proces sing parameters on the fiber length and the interfacial reaction betwe en fibers and aluminium have been studied. Composites with different f iber volume fraction (up to 15 vol. %) were tested on their longitudin al stiffness and tensile strength at room as well as elevated temperat ures to investigate the strengthening effect caused by addition of fib ers into the matrix material. An experiment of annealing of the compos ites was done to study the influence of annealing time and temperature on the interfacial bonding strength and on the amount of reaction pro duct (Al4C3) at the interface.