Microstructure and properties of carbon fiber reinforced Fe-Cu based friction materials prepared by powder metallurgy

The carbon fiber reinforced Fe-Cu based friction materials were prepared by cold press molding at 600 MPa and hot pressed sintering at 980 and 2℃~3 MPa for 2 h in hydrogen atmosphere, using Fe-Cu as the main component, graphite and MoS₂ as the lubrication component, and Al₂O₃, SiC, and zirconium sand as the friction component with adding carbon fiber in different mass fraction. The hardness, relative density, microstructure, and friction and wear properties of the friction materials were investigated in the paper. The results show that the wear-resisting ceramic phase and the lubricating component are uniformly distributed on the Fe-Cu matrix, and the Fe-Cu matrix is partially solid-dissolved, and the carbon fiber is buried between the matrix and the friction component. When the mass fraction of carbon fiber is 2%~4%, the hardness of the prepared friction material is HV 102.2~118.6, the relative density is 90.4%~92.6%, the friction coefficient is 0.56~0.60, respectively, and the accumulated wear loss weight is the smallest. The wear mechanism of friction materials is mainly abrasive wear, accompanied by a small amount of adhesive wear. The carbon fiber can strengthen the matrix, nail the friction components, separate the furrow, and reduce the wear during the friction process.