Preparation and Current Carrying Wear Properties of PF/CNTs-Cu Composites

A new type of copper foam and carbon nanotube reinforced phenolic resin composites was prepared by a pressureless infiltration and pressure curing process. The current carrying friction and wear tests of the composites with varying carbon nanotube contents were carried out using a CSM friction and wear tester. The results show that the composites without carbon nanotube had the largest friction coefficient and wear rate, and a number of furrows existed on the worn surface, so the wear mechanism is abrasive wear. As carbon nanotube was added, the friction and wear properties of the composites were improved to a great extent. With the increasing of carbon nanotube content from 0.25% to 1.0%, the friction coefficient and wear rate decreased gradually and reached the minimum at 1.0%. The wear mechanism changed from abrasive wear to adhesive wear gradually. With increasing carbon nanotube content to 1.5%, the friction and wear properties of the composites decreased sharply due to the agglomeration of carbon nanotube, and the wear mechanism became abrasive wear and adhesive wear.