A lead-free bronze alloy powder with a dispersed sulphide solid lubricant phase has been produced by atomisation as a substitute for lead bronze friction materials. The powder has been processed to produce a bronze/steel bimetal strip by a sinter/roll/sinter process route, via both solid state and liquid phase sintering. Friction properties of the developed materials and a sintered bronze were compared in pin-on-disc tests; the Cu-Sn-S material shows excellent properties, equivalent to those of a lead bronze, and is being assessed for use in high pressure bushes.
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