Effect of Ti on interface wettability and microstructure of C/Cu composites prepared by infiltration

C/Cu composites were synthesized by pressureless reactive infiltration of CuTi alloy into carbon fiber preforms. The microstructure of composites and interface reaction was investigated by X-ray diffractometry, energy dispersive spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that Ti adding into Cu-based alloy tends to combine with carbon to form titanium carbide, thus enhances the wettability of carbon fiber by copper, and then pressureless infiltration becomes available. The titanium carbide precipitates in the liquid metal around the carbon fiber in the form of solution-separation style. The titanium carbide content of composites is determined by the amounts of titanium in liquid metal. The appropriate amounts of titanium has a beneficial effect on the infiltration while the excess amounts of it damages the carbon fiber and thus decreases the volume fraction.