Effects of Load on the Wear Behaviors of Cu-Based Composite under Different Electrical Currents

Abstract

A new type Cu-La2O3 composite was fabricated by internal oxidation method using powder metallurgy. The sliding behavior of the Cu-La2O3 composites was studied using a pin-on-disk wear tester under different electrical currents and different applied loads. The worn surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to determine the wear mechanisms. The results showed that the wear rate and friction coefficient of the La2O3 composites pins increased with the increase of the applied load at low electrical current, while at high electrical current the wear rate and friction coefficient decreased firstly and then increased as the applied load increased. The main wear mechanisms of the Cu-La2O3 composites were found to be adhesive wear, abrasive wear, oxidation wear and arc erosion.