Fabrication and mechanical property of three-dimensional carbon fiber reinforced Mg-based bulk metallic glass matrix composite

Carbon fiber (CF) reinforced bulk metallic glass matrix composites (BMGMCs) have received widespread attention due to their light weight, but subsequent development is facing urgent challenges of uncontrollable interface reaction and poor plasticity. Here, we report a three-dimensional CF-reinforced Mg-based BMGMC, which significantly improves the microstructure and compressive plasticity by adjusting the pressure infiltration parameters. It has been found that the electroless copper plating improves the wettability of the CF and the melt without inducing the crystallization of the matrix, in spite of the partially dissolving and diffusing of the coating to the matrix. Under a similar infiltration pressure difference, high vacuum conditions are beneficial to reduce the capillary resistance of the porous CF preform, thereby improving the formability of BMGMC. Compression test results prove that the introduction of three-dimensional CF effectively improves the plasticity of the composite material and reduces its brittleness tendency. It can be attributed to the fact that the carbon fibers distributed in different directions effectively bridge the multi-directional cracks and prevent the early rapid shear band propagation. The present work provides meaningful enlightenment for the development of CF-reinforced BMGMC materials.

Automated summary

This study reports a three-dimensional carbon fiber-reinforced Mg-based bulk metallic glass matrix composite, which significantly improves microstructure and compressive plasticity by adjusting pressure infiltration parameters. The introduction of electroless copper plating and high vacuum conditions enhance the wettability of carbon fiber and melt, reducing brittleness and improving formability of the composite material.