Sumitomo Metal Industries, Inc.

Toru Iwahashi

Takashi Fukuda

Yukihiro Sugimoto

Kiyoshi Sudani

Masato Kano

An improved carbon/metal composite which includes a carbon matrix and metal fibers distributed in the carbon matrix. The improvement is that the metal fibers are selected from (A) metal fibers in which the surfaces of at least a portion of the fibers are coated or alloyed with another material which has a tendency to form carbides which is equal to or lower than that of the metal constituting the metal fibers, (B) metal fibers including at least two different types of metal fibers which differ with respect to their dimensions and/or material, and (C) metal fibers distributed in the carbon matrix in such a manner that their content varies along the thickness of the composite, thereby imparting to the composite improved properties with respect to at least one of mechanical strength, impact resistance, wear resistance, and electric conductivity.

Method of making a carbon/metal composite

An improved carbon/metal composite is disclosed which comprises a carbon matrix and metal fibers distributed in the carbon matrix. The improvement is that the metal fibers are selected from (A) metal fibers in which the surfaces of at least a portion of the fibers are coated or alloyed with another material which has a tendency to form carbides which is equal to or lower than that of the metal constituting the metal fibers, (B) metal fibers comprising at least two different types of metal fibers which differ with respect to their dimensions and/or material, and (C) metal fibers distributed in the carbon matrix in such a manner that their content varies along the thickness of the composite, thereby imparting to the composite improved properties with respect to at least one of mechanical strength, impact resistance, wear resistance, and electric conductivity.

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Yamatokoriyama, Japan

Toru Iwahashi