Wear and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced copper alloy composites

The mechanical properties and wear behavior of lead-free metal matrix composite, and carbon fiber reinforced copper alloy composites were studied, and compared with a common leaded copper (Cu-6wt.%Zn-6wt.%Sn-3 wt.%Pb) alloy. The effects of carbon fibers and alloy element Sn on these properties were investigated. Carbon fiber/Cu–Sn–Zn composites showed higher hardness and bending strength than the leaded copper alloy when carbon fibers content is less than 12 vol.%. Tribological tests were conducted with disks made from these materials, and tested against a steel counterface. The carbon fiber/Cu–Sn–Zn composites showed higher wear resistance than the leaded copper alloy under a constant load of 50 N. Observations on surface morphology were utilized in understanding the wear properties of these materials. The results show that the wear mechanism of the leaded copper alloy is adhesive wear, while it is mainly adhesive wear accompanied by oxidative wear for the 12 vol.% carbon fiber/Cu–Sn–Zn composites. The 12 vol.% carbon fiber/Cu–Sn–Zn composites are likely to provide optimum substitutes for the leaded copper alloy under the load of 50 N.