Effect of Braking Speed on Frictional Properties of Short Fiber C/C-SiC Brake Materials and Grey Cast Iron

Abstract

Short fiber C/C-SiC brake materials were prepared by dipping the fibers in resin, chopping, warm pressing, and pyrolyzing, followed by a liquid silicon infiltration process. The effect of braking speed (initial braking speed) on the frictional properties of a pair of short fiber C/C-SiC brake materials and grey cast iron (HT250) (C/C-SiC-HT250) was investigated. The results indicated that the average friction coefficient of the C/C-SiC-HT250 increased to the maximum value at 10 m/s and then decreased with an increase in braking speed. The wear rate of the C/C-SiC increased with increasing braking speed when it was lower than 10 m/s and decreased when it was higher than 10 m/s. The wear was the result of the brittle fracture of asperities when the braking speed was lower than 10 m/s and induced granular debris. The wear for the tough cutting by C/C-SiC asperities or hard phase when the braking speed was higher than 10 m/s and resulted in ribbon debris. When the braking speed was higher than 20 m/s, the texture of the friction surface of the HT250 changed, which would affect the tribological properties.

KEY WORDS:

• Friction
• Wear
• Brakes
• Ceramic Composite

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors acknowledge support of this project by the Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing (NWPU), China (Grant No. 46-QP-2009), NPU Foundation for Fundamental Research (NPU-FFR-JC20110243), and “111” project (B08040).