Microstructure and properties of C_sf/Al composite material prepared by squeezing-infiltrating process

Short carbon fibers reinforced aluminum matrix composite materials, with M40 short carbon fibers used as reinforced materials and LY12 aluminum alloy as matrix, have been fabricated by the squeezing-infiltrating process, and the influence of infiltrating process on interfacial reactions and microstructure of composite materials and their mechanical properties at room temperature and high temperature have been studied. The results of study show that the infiltrating temperature, which is also called the pouring temperature of liquid aluminum, has a great influence on interfacial reactions, microstructure and properties of composite materials of the same cooling rate. When the temperature was above 760-790°C, the material properties were better due to un-obviously or slightly interfacial reactions, and when the temperature was higher than 800°C, the materials properties were declined sharply, and even lower than matrix properties, which is due to the oxidation phenomena in carbon fibers. With the increase of the volume fraction of carbon fibers, the mechanical properties at room and high temperatures of the composite materials were improved.