Abstract: The aluminum titanate-mullite matrix composites reinforced by surface modified carbon fibers were processed. The carbon fiber was coated with Ni, Cu and Cu + Ni by electroless plating process. The effects of content of various carbon fibers on bending strength, fracture toughness, dimensional shrinkage and porosity of the composite were studied. The results indicate that the surface modified carbon fibers particularly plated by the Cu + Ni can improve the properties of the composites remarkably. The bending strength and fracture toughness of the composites are 2.8 and 2.74 times as high as those of the matrix ceramic respectively and the dimensional shrinkage and porosity of the composites keep nearly the same as the matrix ceramic.