Effect of fiber binding force on the molding of Cf/Al composites

Abstract

The dispersibility of non-damaged carbon fibers and the stability of fiber position have a crucial influence on the properties of continuous carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix (Cf/Al) composites. In order to avoid the damage to the fiber caused by excessive infiltration pressure, which can be controlled by adjusting the distance from the vibration head to the fiber bundle. The effect of different binding force on the distribution and the fixed position of non-damaged carbon fibers in the matrix were studied. The results show that with the fiber binding force increases (0 N, 2 N and 4 N), the carbon fiber bundles can be stably located in a predetermined position and gradually completely infiltrated, but with the binding force further increases (6 N and 8 N), the fiber clusters and uninfiltrated defects appeared again. It is found that the proper fiber binding force can ensure that the carbon fiber does not shift under the infiltration pressure, so that the fibers distribute uniformly in the composite, but the excessive binding forces can obviously inhibit the dispersion of the fibers. Tensile test results show that the ultimate tensile strength increases first and then decreases with the increasing of fiber binding force. When binding force reach to 4 N, the tensile performance of the composites is 203 MPa at its best. The uniform distribution of carbon fibers in the matrix play an important role in improving the tensile performance of Cf/Al composites.