The reinforcement/matrix interface is a key factor in determining the
properties of composite materials. The microstructure and, therefore,
the properties of interfaces are determined by composition and composi
te processing. Coatings applied to the reinforcement phase will change
the composition near the interface and may improve the interface prop
erties. In this study, a technique for sputter coating ceramic powders
was developed and used to coat large SiC particles (mean size of 142
mu m) with copper. The copper coating was found to be face-centered cu
bic by X-ray diffraction and continuous using X-ray mapping. These par
ticles were mixed with Cu powder and sintered to form a Cu-matrix comp
osite material. Although the copper coating did not significantly impr
ove the interfacial bonding in these materials, the success in coating
ceramic particles suggests that this approach may be useful in other
composite systems.