Mechanical properties of a novel fiber metal laminate based on a carbon fiber reinforced Zn-Al alloy composite

Fiber metal laminates (FMLs) which consist of magnesium alloy layers and a continuous carbon fiber-reinforced Zn-Al alloy composites layer (the mass fraction of Al is 8%) were fabricated by the diffusion bonding method. The Zn-Al alloy used as the solder of the FMLs in this paper infiltrated the carbon fiber well and bonded the carbon fiber and magnesium alloy layer tightly. Tensile results indicated an improvement of the tensile strength and elastic modulus by 103% and 41%, respectively, compared with those of the original magnesium alloy sheets. The microstructure of the interfaces between the carbon fiber and Zn-Al, as well as the interface between Mg and Zn-Al, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). MgZn2 was formed at the Mg/Zn-Al interface. The component of the C-f/Zn-Al interface was nanoscale Al2O3. This research proves the feasibility of joining metal sheets with carbon fiber-reinforced low-melting-point alloy composite sheets to fabricate metallurgically-bonded FMLs.