Chilled Temperature Induced Unidirectional Sliding Characteristics of 2D Woven Carbon Fiber Composites

Abstract

Despite exhibiting outstanding refractory properties and high hardness, the properties of carbon–carbon (C/C) composites are greatly influenced by the surrounding environment. The tribological behaviour is not an exception considering environmental effect. Although the general tribological use of C/C composites (i.e., brake disks of aircrafts and high speed cars) requires excellent high temperature characteristics, the tribological elements also have to pass through freezing environment. Thus, present article focuses on the investigation of tribological behaviour of C/C composites in the freezing environment. Laminate orientation, surface conformity, load, and sliding velocity were varied. The load was varied ranging 20 N, 30 N, 40 N, 50 N and 60 N, and the sliding velocities were varied ranging 1 m/s, 1.5 m/s, 2 m/s, 2.5 m/s and 3 m/s. The results showed that tribological behaviour of C/C composites changed with load, sliding velocity, laminate orientation, and surface conformity. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of worn surfaces showed that the mechanism and synergism between friction film formation, adsorption, and desorption of water molecules, wear debris morphology described the tribological behaviour of C/C composites. Coefficient of friction of C/C composites was lower, and wear rate was higher in non-conformal Hertzian contacts due to very high and localized induced stresses. © 2022, The Indian Institute of Metals - IIM.