Aluminum Coating on Carbon Fibers by Cylindrical Sputtering Apparatus

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to prepare a high-strength FRM. Aluminum covering over carbon fibers was made to increase their wettability to molten aluminum. A cylindrical sputtering apparatus was used for the covering. One tow of carbon fibers was placed along the central axis of the cylindrical target. Aluminum was uniformly coated around the carbon fiber tow. But in case of CF without sizing treatment, aluminum spread into the inside of the tow. Preforms of carbon fiber/aluminum composite were made by impregnating cabon fibers with molten aluminum. Contact angle of molten aluminum to the aluminum-coated carbon fiber was about 30°. The fractured section of preform was obserbed by SEM, which showed that molten aluminum wetted the outer part of the tow well but had not penetrated into the center, and that adhesion betwenn CF and aluminum matrix was in good condition.