Compatibility of SiC-coated Carbon Fiber with Aluminum

The compatibility of SiC-coated carbon fiber with aluminum was investigated. The carbon fiber was coated with SiC by chemical vapour deposition. The elastic modulus and the tensile strength of the carbon fiber increased after the SiC coating treatment.The compatibility of carbon fiber with aluminum was assessed by strength testing after heating the aluminum-coated fiber specimens in an argon atmosphere. The heat treatments were carried out for 90 ks at temperatures of the solid state of aluminum, or for 1.8 ks at temperatures of the liquid state of aluminum. Though the uncoated carbon fibers showed a marked loss in strength after the heat treatments, the SiC coated coarbon fibers showed no loss in strength after the heat treatments at 673 to 873 K for 90 ks and at 973 to 1073 K for 1.8 ks. However, the noticeable degradation in strength of the SiC-coated carbon fibers was observed after the heat treatments at temperatures higher than 1173 K for 1.8 ks. The wettability between carbon fiber and liquid aluminum was improved by the SiC coating.