High volume fraction of copper coated graphite flake∖Nitrogen doped carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites

High volume fraction of carbon material reinforced aluminum matrix composites were developed by optimized vacuum gas pressure infiltration method, among which the reinforced materials are graphite flake and carbon fiber. To enhance the wettability between the reinforments and aluminum matrix, graphite flake was coated with a thin layer of copper by electroless plating and CF was doped with nitrogen, which proves to be effective and efficient. With the increase of reinforcements from 50 to 80 vol%, the flexural strength of the composites remains at practical level; the coefficients of thermal expansion decrease under the same temperature in direction parallel to basal planes of graphite flake; the thermal conductivity of the composites increase from 327 to 402 W/m K, adding up to relatively high comprehensive performances.