Friction and Wearing Behaviour of Sintered Composites Made from Copper Mixed with Carbon Fibers

Abstract

This paper presents a study regarding friction and wear comportment of sintered composite materials obtained by mixture of copper with short carbon fibers. Sintered composites are gaining importance because the reinforcement serves to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion and increase the strength and modulus. In case of composites form by carbon fiber and copper, the thermal conductivity can also be enhanced. The combination of low thermal expansion and high thermal conductivity makes them very attractive for electronic packaging. Besides good thermal properties, their low density makes them particularly desirable for aerospace electronics and orbiting space structures. Compared to the metal itself, a carbon fiber-copper composite is characterized by a higher strength-to-density ratio, a higher modulus-to-density ratio, better fatigue resistance, better high-temperature mechanical properties and better wear resistance. Varying the percentage of short carbon fibers from 7,8% to 2,4%, and the percentage of copper from 92,2% to 97,6%, five dissimilar composite materials have been made and tested from the wear point of view. Friction tests are carried out, at room temperature, in dry conditions, on a pin-on-disc machine. The friction coefficient was measured using abrasive discs made from steel 4340 having the average hardness of 40 HRC, and sliding velocity of 0,6 m/sec. The primary goal of this study work it was to distinguish a mixture of materials with enhanced friction and wearing behaviour. The load applied on the specimen during the tests, is playing a very important role regarding friction coefficient and also the wearing speed.