Vitreous carbon matrix for low-wear carbon/metal current collectors

Friction, wear, and resistivity are reported for composite specimens made of copper fibers in vitreous or glassy carbon matrix. The resistivity and friction are shown to be comparable to reported values for typical copper graphite specimens, and the wear is shown to be exceptionally low. The experiments reported show that sound composites can be made by polymerization and pyrolysis of an organic material to form a glassy-carbon matrix around copper alloy fibers. This is a radically different process from the techniques of forming such composites from powder, or by pressure infusion of the metal into a graphitic body. Although the vitreous carbon is hard, it does not appear to act as an abrasive on a soft material. Qualitative observations in handling the composite material indicate that it is tough, and this is attributed to the energy absorption by the metal fibers