A combined process of coating and hybridizing for the fabrication of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites

A process which combines fiber coating and particles hybridizing has been utilized for the fabrication of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composite. Ceramic SiC coating was derived by Sol-gel method and SiC particle hybridizing was processed in Sol-gel solution simultaneously. Squeeze-cast process was used to get bulk composite materials. SEM analysis of the material showed a good fiber distribution in the Al matrix by particles hybridizing. HRTEM works indicated the coating to be an effective barrier of the C/Al interfacial reaction and had reduced the interfacial shear strength noticeably. Mechanical properties of the composite were improved especially for the axial strength. C/Al interfacial reaction was also studied which revealed that PAN-based carbon fiber reacted heavily with aluminum matrix. The nucleation and growth of the reactants were dominantly a random process. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.