[T17] Composite/Hybrid Materials

[16D-T17-02] Preparation of Carbon Fiber Dispersed Tool Steel Composites Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering and Evaluation of Thermal Conductivity

*G. Sasaki¹, N. Tani¹, K. Sugio¹ (1.Hiroshima University, Japan)

Keywords:Compoistes, Tool steel, Carbon fiber, Spark plasma sintering, Thermal conductivity

In this study, carbon fiber-dispersed tool steel composites were fabricated by mixing long carbon fibers with tool steel (40CrMoV51) powder and sintering the mixture by spark plasma sintering. Electroless copper plating was applied to the carbon fibers to improve adhesion between the carbon fibers and steel during sintering and to suppress interfacial reactions. The microstructures of the copper and carbon fibers in the composites were analyzed using SEM and EPMA. The thermal conductivity of the composites was measured to investigate the effects of carbon fiber orientation and copper plating on the properties of the composites, and theoretical values were calculated. The copper-plated carbon fibers were effective in suppressing interfacial reactions and densifying the composites, and the composites showed higher thermal conductivity than steel. The thermal conductivity of the composites was lower than the theoretical value due to variations in carbon fiber orientation during sintering.