Orientation control of carbon fibers and enhanced thermal/mechanical properties of hot-extruded carbon fibers/aluminum composites

• Published in: Diamond and related materials Vol. 116; p. 108432
• Main Authors: Yi, Li-Fu, Yamamoto, Takashi, Onda, Tetsuhiko, Chen, Zhong-Chun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.06.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aluminum composites; Bonding strength; Carbon fibers; Carbon fibers/Al composite; Coefficient of thermal expansion; Compacting; Composite materials; Compressive strength; Electroless nickel coating; Extrusion coating; Hot extrusion; Interfacial bonding; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Nickel coatings; Spark plasma sintering; Thermal conductivity; Thermal expansion; Hot extrusion; Thermal conductivity; Coefficient of thermal expansion; Compressive strength; Carbon fibers/Al composite; Electroless nickel coating
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2021.108432

Electroless nickel (Ni)-coated carbon fibers (CFs)/aluminum (Al) composites were prepared by a hot-extrusion process. The effects of Ni-coating and extrusion temperature on microstructure, thermal conductivity (TC), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and compressive strength of CFs/Al composites have been systematically investigated. Microstructural observations showed that the CFs in hot-extruded composites were preferentially oriented along the extrusion direction. The Ni coating on CFs resulted in higher relative density of CFs/Al composites, more homogeneous distributions of CFs in the Al matrix, and stronger interfacial bonding between CFs and Al. As a result, the extruded Ni-coated CFs/Al samples showed higher TC, lower CTE, and higher compressive strength in comparison with uncoated CFs/Al extruded samples and Ni-coated CFs/Al spark plasma sintered (SPSed) samples. For example, the Ni-coated CFs/Al sample extruded at 500 °C showed TC, CTE, and compressive strength values of 227 W m−1 K−1, 7.32 ppm K−1, and 113 MPa, respectively, which correspond to 18%, −22%, and 38% enhancements compared to the SPSed sample. [Display omitted] •Carbon fibers were preferentially oriented along the extrusion direction.•Ni coating caused high density, uniform distributions and good interfacial bonding.•Coefficient of thermal expansion and strength of extrudates were first reported.•High thermal conductivity and low coefficient of thermal expansion were obtained.•The composites showed high compressive strength.