The Influence of a Type of Lubricating Phase Particles on the Microstructure and Tribological Properties of the Copper Matrix Composites

摘要

The paper presents results of a research work on the effect of particular particles of lubricating phases on microstructure and tribological properties of the copper-based composite materials designed for slide bearings. The material under investigation were copper alloys containing particles of different lubricating phases in a form of graphite, glassy carbon, tungsten disulfide (WS_2) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS_2). Metallic matrix of the composites was the CuSn10 bronze prepared in laboratory conditions. The composite materials were obtained by powder metallurgy methods. The process consisted in mixing bronze powders with the particles of non-metallic phases, followed by powder consolidation. The sintering was conducted at the temperature of 750 - 800X and next, quantitative and qualitative examination of the alloys microstructure was carried out. The analyzed parameters were: surface area of a flat cross-section, coefficient of shape (circularity), and elongation. Moreover, the detailed evaluation of tribological properties of the materials under investigation (coefficient of friction, wear) was made by means of the CSM Instruments high-temperature tribometer.