Effect of pyrolytic carbon interface thickness on conductivity and mechanical and wear properties of copper mesh modified carbon/carbon composite

Abstract

Carbon fiber/copper fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composite, a kind of novel sliding contact strip material, was fabricated using a chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) technology, following by furan resin impregnation and carbonization processes. To improve the interface combination, pyrolytic carbon (PyC) with different layer thicknesses (0–18.86 μm) were formed on the copper and carbon fiber surfaces via controlling deposition time of the CVI. Microstructure, electrical conductivity, flexural strength and current-carrying friction performances were investigated. The results showed the dominant affecting factor on the material performances was the microstructure of matrix carbon. The electrical conductivity increased with increasing of the PyC layer thickness, which was an approximate linear collection. As compared to the one without the PyC interface, Cf/Cuf-C composites with PyC interface increased flexural strength and wear resistance by more than two times owing to the effective protection for carbon fibers and copper fibers. In addition, three physical models were used to describe wear mechanisms of Cf/Cuf-C composites with different PyC layer thicknesses.