Tribological Properties of Resin Matrix Composites

The tribological properties of the pad seriously affect the service lifetime of the disc brake and the safety of the vehicles. By using a high speed tribo-tester, tribological behaviors of resin matrix composite sliding against gray cast iron HT250 were investigated under high speed dry sliding conditions. Friction and wear tests were performed at elevated temperatures to obtain the friction coefficient and wear rate of resin matrix composite pad. Morphology and hardness of the unworn and worn surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscope, photoelectric direct reading spectrometer and microhardness tester, and the wear mechanism at elevated temperature was presented. The mean friction coefficient and wear rate were observed to increase firstly and then decrease with the increasing temperature. The variation of the micro hardness and area of the friction layer increase firstly and then decrease with the increasing temperature. Adhesive wear mechanism dominated at higher temperature.