Structure formation during processing short carbon fiber-reinforced aluminum alloy matrix composites

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02648822· OSTI ID:5357660

Ciby, S; Pai, B C; Satyanarayana, K G ^[1]; Vaidyan, V K ^[2]; Rohatgi, P K ^[3]

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1. Regional Research Lab., Trivandrum (India)
2. Univ. of Kerala, Trivandrum (India). Dept. of Physics
3. Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (United States). Dept. of Materials

Nickel- and copper-coated, as well as uncoated, short carbon fibers were dispersed in melts of aluminum or aluminum alloys by stirring followed by solidification of composite melts. Microstructural examination of cast composites indicated extensive damage to the surface of the carbon fibers when uncoated carbon fibers were introduced into the melt under the conditions of the present investigation. When nickel- or copper-coated carbon fibers were used to make composites under similar conditions, the fibers generally did not exhibit observable amounts of fiber surface degradation at the interface, except for small islands of an Al[sub 4]C[sub 3] phase. When nickel-coated carbon fibers were used to make composites, the coating reacted with the melt, and NiAl[sub 3] intermetallic phase particles were observed in the matrix away from the fibers, indicating a preference for nucleation of NiAl[sub 3] away from the fiber surfaces. Under a transmission electron microscope (TEM), the NiAl[sub 3] phase was not observed on the surface of carbon fibers, except in some region where the NiAl[sub 3] phase engulfed the carbon fibers during growth. When copper-coated carbon fibers were used to make composites, the coating reacted with the melt, and particles of CuAl[sub 2] intermetallic compound were generally dispersed in the matrix away from the fibers, except for a few locations where the CuAl[sub 2] phase was found at the interface under TEM observation. These microstructures are discussed in terms of nucleation of primary [alpha] aluminum and NiAl[sub 3] or CuAl[sub 2] phases and the interaction between short carbon fibers and these phases during growth while the composite was solidifying.

• OSTI ID: 5357660
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance; (United States) Vol. 2:3; ISSN 1059-9495; ISSN JMEPEG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360602* -- Other Materials-- Structure & Phase Studies
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM CARBIDES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON FIBERS
COATINGS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIBERS
INFORMATION
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NUMERICAL DATA
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SOLIDIFICATION