Effects of fiber volume fraction, hot pressing parameters and alloying elements on tensile strength of carbon fiber reinforced copper matrix composite prepared by continuous three-step electrodeposition

Carbon fiber reinforced copper matrix composites have been produced by continuous three-step electrodeposition plus hot pressing technique. Iron or nickel element was added to copper matrix to improve interfacial bonding of the composite. The effects of fiber volume fraction and hot pressing parameters (temperature, pressure and time) on the tensile strength of the composite were investigated. Emphasis was placed on the influence of alloying elements on the tensile strength of the composite. The composite was found to exhibit the highest strength at an optimum Vf, hot pressing parameter temperature, pressure, or time by keeping other parameters constant. This optimum value was related to the alloying element incorporated in the copper matrix. It is observed that incorporation of alloying elements does not change the general trends, but changes the mechanism governing the decreasing trends of the tensile strength of the composites as the hot pressing temperature exceeds the optimum value. Further, the alloying elements affect the highest strength values (σmax). C/Cu(Ni) composite with the medium interfacial bonding strength exhibits the highest σmax. It is concluded from our experiments that a diffusion bonding is preferable since the fiber–matrix interaction can be easily controlled and the fiber degradation is limited during hot pressing process.