Two-phase multiscale nickel-coated carbon fiber and Zirconium carbide particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites(Cf(Ni)-ZrC/2024Al) were prepared by spark plasma sintering. In order to improve the interfacial bonding strength between carbon fiber and matrix, electroless nickel plating was carried out on carbon fiber, and the effects of sintering process on the density, microhardness and tensile strength of the composite were studied. The results show that when the sintering temperature is 480 ℃, the sintering pressure is 30 MPa and the holding time is 10 min, the aluminum matrix composites with compact structure and excellent properties can be obtained. The density of the composite is only 2.71 g/m3, the microhardness, tensile strength and elongation are 105.6 HV, 330 MPa and 10.2%, respectively, and the mechanical properties are higher than 2024Al alloy. The improvement of mechanical properties is attributed to the good interfacial bonding between the carbon fiber and the substrate, the ZrC network distribution structure, and the dislocation enhancement caused by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient between the reinforcement phase and the substrate.