Fabrication and mechanical properties of graphite fiber reinforced aluminum alloys

A new method to fabricate continuous graphite fiber reinforced aluminum alloy composites has been developed and the tensile properties of the composites have been investigated. Composites with 601, 201 and 7178 alloy matrix containing up to 19 volume per cent of Thornel 50 graphite fiber were studied. These composites showed lower tensile strength values than the expected values from the "rule of mixture". A theoretical model is discussed in order to understand the tensile properties of these composites. In this mechanism, graphite fibers are thought to be broken continuously one after another at maximum loading point of ultimate tensile strength during the tensile test. A further attempt has been made to improve the tensile strength of these composites, based on the above theoretical work.Applied Science, Faculty ofMaterials Engineering, Department ofGraduat