Carbon fiber reinforced aluminum alloy composites (CF/Al composites) are expected in aerospace and electric power cable industries due to superior specific strength and specific modulus. But, it is known that CF/Al composites form aluminum carbide (Al
4C
3) at the interface between carbon fiber and aluminum alloy when CF/Al composites are fabricated. However, effects of type of carbon fiber (PAN, pitch) on growth mechanism of Al
4C
3 and tensile strength of CF/Al composites have not been clarified. In this study, at first, CF/Al composites are fabricated with ultrasonic infiltration method. Secondary, effects of type of carbon fiber and fabricating time on quantity and size of Al
4C
3 were investigated. Thirdly, effects of quantity and size of Al
4C
3 on tensile strength of CF/Al composites were examined. The length of Al
4C
3 increased with increase in fabricating time for PAN-based composites. It was suggested that the numbers of nucleating sites of Al
4C
3 increased with an increase in fabricating time for pitch-based composites. As the result, as to the PAN-based composites, it should be controlled less than 100 nm of the length of Al
4C
3 to inhibit degradation of tensile strength. As to the pitch-based composites, fabricating time should be shorter.
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