Pitch-based carbon fiber microstructure and texture and compatibility with aluminum coated using chemical vapor deposition

Abstract The tensile strength of aluminum-coated pitch-based carbon fibers (carbon fiber/aluminum microcomposites) was measured with or without annealing at 773–873 K for 2 h in argon. Pitch-based carbon fiber microstructures (random, radial, and onion) and texture were evaluated and the interaction of fibers with aluminum coated on fibers was observed using TEM and EDX. Changes in tensile strength were significantly affected by fiber microstructure and texture. Composites of aluminum and onion-structure fibers exhibited higher tensile strengths than composites of aluminum and fibers of other microstructures. Fiber reactivity with aluminum also varied with microstructures. We concluded that structurally controlled pitch-based carbon fibers could be potentially attractive for metal-matrix applications, and could significantly improve carbon fiber/aluminum composite properties.