Fabrication process and properties of Cu-coated carbon fiber reinforced Al matrix composites

This study is aimed to produce aluminum metal matrix composites reinforced with carbon fiber (CF). In order to overcome the wetting problem between the aluminum matrix and the reinforcing agent, carbon fibers were coated with Cu coating with electrodeless technique. The effects of different temperatures on the deposition rate of copper plating under certain process conditions are studied. SEM, EDS and XRD methods are used to determine the characteristics of the surface coatings of the carbon fibers. XPS and FTIR analyses are used to characterize the changes of carbon fibers before and after the degumming treatment. The results show that after the degumming treatment, the surface chemical activity of the carbon fibers is significantly improved. The content of carboxyl COOH increases, which was more conducive to the deposition of copper coating by electrodeless technique. In comparison with the CF/Al composite materials prepared by the casting process, the strength of the composite material reinforced by copper-plated carbon fiber is 81 MPa, while the strength of the composite material reinforced by uncoppered carbon fiber is 72.38 MPa; it shows that the copper-plated carbon fiber can be better combined with the aluminum matrix, so that the comprehensive mechanical properties of the composite material are significantly improved.