Abstract
In this research, the effect of alloying elemental on the mechanical and electrical properties of powder metallurgy (PM) copper composite alloy with vapor-grown carbon fibers (VGCFs) was investigated. The alloying elements were titanium and silicon, which easily formed their carbides at elevated temperature. The Cu-Ti composites with VGCFs showed a slightly decreased yield stress compared to the monolithic Cu-Ti alloys. The electrical conductivity of the composite materials increased with increasing VGCFs content. However, the Cu-Si composites with VGCFs had mechanical and electrical properties which were the same as its monolithic alloy. Ti soluted in the matrix reacted with VGCFs, and resulted in a decrease of the solid solution element in the matrix according SEM and TEM observation. In the case of the Cu-Si composite, however, the reaction between VGCFs and solute Si elements to form Si-C compounds was never detected. The strength and conductivity of the Cu-Si with the VGCF composites were not improved.
