Tribological behaviour of SiC particle-reinforced copper matrix composites

Pure copper and its composites reinforced with SiC particles were prepared by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process. The tribological behaviour of copper and composites was studied on a pin-on-disc tester. The pins were slid against a hardened steel disc under dry ambient conditions. In two-body abrasive wear measurements, the disc surface was bonded with a SiC abrasive paper of 240 grit size. The abrasive wear measurements showed that soft copper exhibits an extremely high wear loss. However, additions of SiC particles up to 20 vol.% appeared to improve the abrasive wear resistance of copper significantly under the applied loads of 15-55 N. Dry sliding wear tests also indicated that the composite with 20 vol.% SiC exhibits a lower wear loss compared to pure copper. This was due to the reinforcing SiC particles being effective to reduce the extent of wear deformation in the subsurface region during sliding.