Effects of fiber volume fraction, hot pressing parameters and alloying elements on tensile strength of carbon fiber reinforced copper matrix composite prepared by continuous three-step electrodeposition

Carbon fiber reinforced copper matrix composites have been produced by cont inuous three-step electrodeposition plus hot pressing technique. Iron or ni ckel element was added to copper matrix to improve interfacial bonding of t he composite. The effects of fiber volume fraction and hot pressing paramet ers (temperature. pressure and time) on the tensile strength of the composi te were investigated. Emphasis was placed on the Influence of alloying elem ents on the tensile strength of the composite. The composite was found to e xhibit the highest strength at an optimum V-f, hot pressing parameter tempe rature, pressure, or time by keeping other parameters constant. This optimu m value was related to the alloying element incorporated in the copper matr ix. It is observed that incorporation of alloying elements does not change the general trends, but changes the mechanism governing the decreasing tren ds of the tensile strength of the composites as the hot pressing temperatur e exceeds the optimum value. Further. the alloying elements affect the high est strength values (sigma(max)). C/Cu(Ni) composite with the medium interf acial bonding strength exhibits the highest sigma(max). It is concluded fro m our experiments that a diffusion bonding is preferable since the fiber-ma trix interaction can be easily controlled and the fiber degradation is limi ted during hot pressing process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.