Effects of interfacial diffusion induced infiltration process on the microstructure evolution and interfacial enhancement of CF/Mg composites

Abstract In the present study, the interfacial diffusion was designed as one of the main infiltration driving force of the carbon fiber (CF)/Mg composites, by means of applying Ni coating on the CFs. The results showed that optimal morphology and distribution of the Mg-Ni interfacial reaction products were obtained, under the combination of CF surface coating and mechanical pressure. With increasing the preparation temperature from 813 K to 853 K, the morphologies of Mg-Ni interfacial reaction products changed from coarse Mg2Ni to fine Mg2Ni of eutectic structure. The presence of eutectic structure (Mg + Mg2Ni) can prevent the crack growth and provide effective load transfer and higher energy absorption, consequently leading to the improvement of mechanical properties. The UTS of the composites fabricated at 853 K is 117 MPa, which is 67.1 % higher than that of the corresponding matrix. For the condition of 813 K and 833 K, the UTS of the composites is 44.2 % and 53.7 % larger than the matrix, respectively.