Effect of Short Carbon Fiber Volume Fraction on High-Temperature Tensile Properties of SCF/2A12 Composite

To meet the increasing performance requirements of drilling pipes, including a reduced weight and enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, the application of aluminum alloys must be further advanced. Short-carbon-fiber-reinforced 2A12 aluminum alloy composites were fabricated via powder metallurgy. The density, hardness, and tensile strength of the composites were measured. The influence of the carbon fiber content on the composite's mechanical properties was investigated across various temperatures. The composite material exhibited maximum yield strengths of 412 MPa at room temperature, 381 MPa at 180 °C, and 337 MPa at 220 °C. Incorporating carbon fibers increased the service temperature of a 2A12 aluminum alloy by approximately 40 °C. The strength increment of composites with a fiber content below 6 vol.% corresponded to the load transfer mechanism of carbon fiber, while the reason for non-conformity at a more than 6 vol.% fiber content was the continuous fracturing of carbon fibers, leading to the failure of the composites.