Short carbon fiber-aluminium matrix composite material prepared by extrusion of powder mixtures

Unidirectional short carbon fiber/aluminum matrix composites have been prepared by hot extrusion of fiber/powder mixtures. Effects of processing parameters on the fiber length and the interfacial reaction between fibers and aluminium have been studied. Composites with different fiber volume fraction (up to 15 vol. %) were tested on their longitudinal stiffness and tensile strength at room as well as elevated temperatures to investigate the strengthening effect caused by addition of fibers into the matrix material. An experiment of annealing of the composites was done to study the influence of annealing time and temperature on the interfacial bonding strength and on the amount of reaction product (Al4C3) at the interface. (orig.)