Abstract：To investigate the influence of reinforcement phase configuration on the performance of carbon strips, this study systematically compared the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fracture behavior of graphite- based (pure carbon, metal-impregnated carbon) and carbon fiber-based (C/C, C/C-Cu) strips. The results show that graphite-based strips belong to a discrete particle-type discontinuous load-bearing system. Due to interconnected pores (open porosity of (17.2±0.7)%) and weak interfacial bonding, the pure carbon strip exhibits a bending strength of only (68.2±1.8) MPa and an impact toughness of (0.44±0.02) J/cm2. After metal impregnation, although the electrical resistivity decreases to (2.4±0.6) μΩ·m, the impact toughness increases only slightly to (0.48±0.09) J/cm2 due to the weak Cu/C interface. In contrast, carbon fiber-based strips rely on a three-dimensional continuous fiber skeleton. The C/C strip achieves an electrical resistivity of (22.0±1.5) μΩ·m and an impact toughness of (1.75±0.02) J/cm2. Although the C/C-Cu strip exhibits a low electrical resistivity of (1.5±0.3) μΩ·m due to its dual continuous structure, the thermal expansion mismatch between copper and carbon leads to interfacial microcracks and bundle-type fiber pullout instead of single-fiber toughening, reducing its impact toughness to (1.00±0.14) J/cm2, though it remains significantly superior to graphite-based strips. Regarding fracture mechanisms, graphite-based strips are dominated by intergranular and cleavage brittle fracture. The C/C strip achieves pseudoplastic fracture through interface debonding, fiber pullout, and crack deflection. In contrast, the C/C-Cu strip exhibits quasi-ductile fracture due to partial failure of toughening mechanisms. The introduction of carbon fiber reinforced phase is key to improving impact toughness, with interfacial bonding strength and reinforcement phase dispersion morphology being the core for property regulation.
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