Electrical resistivity of copper reinforced with short carbon fibres

The electrical resistivity of copper reinforced with short aligned carbon fibres has been measured in axial and transverse directions as a function of fibre content. The results have been considered in the light of predictions from the Eshelby equivalent homogeneous inclusion method for modelling of conduction. Higher resistivities, particularly for transverse current flow, were observed than is predicted on the basis of an isotropic matrix resistivity equal to that of unreinforced copper. This is thought to be explicable in terms of the effect of relatively high levels of elongated porosity present in the specimens examined.