Abstract

This research was conducted to characterize the properties of the metal–carbon fiber composites. The metal-carbon fibers composites were synthesized from the metal salt of Al or Cu or Zn or Mg and kapok fiber by pyrolysis at 400 to 700°C. The composites products were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDS. Generally, it was found that the crystalline of all metal-carbon composites have been reduced as the pyrolysis temperature increases from 400 to 700°C. The composites of all kind have a tendency of a decreasing percent yield with increasing temperature of pyrolysis from 400 to 700°C. The oxidizing strength of metal salts are arranged in order Al2O3 < ZnCl2 < MgSO4.7H2O < Cu (NO3)2. The amount of metal-carbon composite on surface of kapok carbon fiber was ordered as follows: Zn-carbon composite < Cu-carbon composite < Mg-carbon composite < Al-carbon composite. 
 
Key words: Kapok, carbon fiber, metal-carbon fiber composite, pyrolysis.