Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of electroless ni-plated short carbon fiber reinforced geopolymer matrix composites

Electroless Ni-plated short carbon fiber reinforced geopolymer matrix composites with various carbon fiber/matrix interface coating thicknesses have been successfully fabricated. The influences of coating thickness on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior have been investigated by three-point bending test and scanning electron microscopy. The flexural strength and Young's modulus of Ni-plated short carbon fiber reinforced geopolymer composites exhibit maximums as the average fiber coating thickness increases, but the work of fracture has a sharp decrease, and the fracture manner changes from ductile to brittle. This is mainly attributed to the fact that the carbon fibers favor breakage rather than pulling-out during loading because of the higher interface bonding strength of fiber/matrix, and pliability of the carbon fibers decreases with the increase of the coating thickness.