Effect of PyC coating on mechanical properties of C_f/AZ91D composites

ABSTRACT

The microstructure of high strength PAN-based T700 carbon fibre (C_f) with pyrolytic carbon (PyC) coating was characterised. Effects of PyC coating on the surface of carbon fibres, interface characteristics, and mechanical properties of C_f/AZ91D composites were evaluated. The results showed that the carbon fibres with PyC coating had higher surface roughness and higher graphitisation which were beneficial to ease hazardous interface reaction. C_f-PyC/AZ91D composites with an optimal PyC coating that is about 150 nm thick and has low texture exhibited ultimate tensile strength of 416 MPa, which demonstrated 35% improvement compared with the C_f/AZ91D composites. The increase of mechanical properties of C_f-PyC/AZ91D composites could be ascribed to a synergistic effect of the rough C_f surface interlocking, an optimum interfacial bonding between fibres and matrix, and protection of fibres from a corrosive attack of the aluminium element in the matrix.

KEYWORDS:

• PyC coating
• microstructure of PyC
• C_f/AZ91D composites
• mechanical properties

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Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No.51472203, 51575447, 51521061 ).].