Carbon short fibers/copper composites with different carbon short fiber contents up to 15 wt.% as reinforcements are prepared to investigate the influence of the carbon short fiber surface coating on the microstructure, density, and electrical properties of the carbon short fibers/copper composites. The carbon short fibers were surface treated by acid functionalization followed by alkaline treatment before the coating process. It was observed from the results that coated type copper nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of the carbon short fibers. The surface treated carbon short fibers were coated by copper using the electroless deposition technique in the alkaline tartrate bath by using formaldehyde as a reducing agent of the copper sulfate. The produced coated carbon short fibers/copper composite powders were cold compacted at 600 MPa, and then sintered at 875 °C for 2 h under (hydrogen/nitrogen 1:3) atmosphere. A reference copper sample was also prepared by the same method to compare between the properties of pure copper and the carbon short fibers/copper composites. The phase composition, morphology, and microstructure of the prepared carbon short fibers/copper composite powders as well as the corresponding carbon short fibers/copper composites were investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), respectively. The density and the electrical resistivity of the sintered composites were measured. It was observed from the results that the density was decreased; however, the electrical resistivity was increased by increasing the carbon short fibers wt.%.

Ni coated composite was successfully Prepared by the electroless deposition Process. The average size of Ni particles coated on the matrix powder was about 20 nm. It was hard to find any reaction compound as an impurity at interface between and Ni particles after sintering. The characterization of microstructure crystal structure and fracture behavior of the sintered body were investigated using XRD, TEM and Victors hardness tester, and compared with those of the sintered monolithic body. Many dislocations were observed in the Ni phase due to the difference of thermal expansion coefficient between and Ni phase, and no observed microcracks at their and Ni interface. In the /Ni composite, the main fracture mode showed a mixed fracture with intergranular and transgranuluar type having some ,surface roughness. The fracture toughness was slightly increased due to the plastic deformation mechanism of Ni phase in the /Ni composite.