Development of VGCF/MP Reinforced Al Matrix Composite by Low Pressure Infiltration Method and Their Thermal Property

Gao Fei

Choi Yongbum

Matsugi Kazuhiro

MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS

To fabricate vapor grown carbon fibers and mesophase pitch reinforced Al matrix (VGCF/MP/Al) composites, porous VGCF/MP with high porosity was fabricated using the spacer method. Carbonization and electroless Ni plating were carried out on porous VGCF/MP to improve its thermal conductivity (TC) and wettability with Al matrix, respectively. In addition, VGCF/MP/Al composites were manufactured using a low pressure infiltration method at 0.1 MPa. The effect of volume fraction of VGCFs on the interface between VGCF/MP and Al matrix, and the reactivity of the Al matrix to the Ni plating were investigated. The composites with 0.5 vol% of VGCFs showed a bonded interface between VGCF/MP and Al matrix. The bonded interface can be attributed to the improved wettability between VGCF/MP and Al matrix from Ni plating, resulting in the good bonding seen between VGCF/MP and Al matrix. At the interface of this sample, an intermetallic compound, Al3Ni, formed from the reaction between Ni and Al. Furthermore, the thermal conductivities of the fabricated porous VGCF/MP and VGCF/MP/Al composites were determined.

vapor grown carbon fibers

electroless plating

Al matrix composite

microstructure

thermal conductivity

eng

The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials

日本金属学会

© 2020 The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials

[ISSN] 1345-9678

[ISSN] 1347-5320

[DOI] 10.2320/matertrans.MT-M2020158

[DOI] https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.MT-M2020158