Abstract
Deformation and fracture behaviour of carbon fibre-reinforced copper matrix composites with very weak interfacial bond, which were prepared by the plating and vacuum hot-pressing technique, were investigated. In spite of the weak interfacial bond, the externally applied load was transferred to the fibres owing to both mechanical interaction between the fibres and the matrix and compression on the specimen in the chucks. The mechanical interaction between the fibres and the matrix in ths case of weak or debonded interface was examined by the multiple-fracture test of single fibre-composites. Most composites with a higher fibre volume fraction exhibited splitting due to their weak transverse strength. As the transverse strength increased with increasing strength of interfacial bond and decreasing fibre volume fraction, splitting occurred for the higher fibre volume fraction at a given (weak) strength of the bond. Effects of the interfacial bond on fracture behaviour, especially on splitting and crack propagation, were discussed. Most of the measured values of ultimate tensile strength of the composites were lower than those calculated by the rule of mixtures.
