Elevated temperature friction and wear behavior of SiG-reinforced copper matrix composites

Copper matrix composites reinforced with 10 vol.% SiC particles were fabricated by a powder metallurgy method. The influence of environmental temperature on friction and wear behavior was studied in the temperature range 25-390degreesC. The incorporation of SiC particles improved the wear resistance at elevated temperature and effectively delayed the occurrence of severe wear at about 100degreesC. A compact glaze layer consisted of comminuted SiC particles, fine oxides and Cu, was formed on the worn surface of the SiC/Cu composite. The protective effect of this layer improved the wear resistance of the sliding pair at high temperature. At mild wear region, the detachment of glaze layer was the primary wear mechanism of the SiC/Cu composite. When the environmental temperature was high enough for the subsurface materials to flow over the residual glaze layer, adhesive wear occurred and resulted in rapid failure of the tribological system.