Electroerosive wear resistance of metallic composite materials reinforced with superelastic hard carbon particles

Abstract

The electroerosive wear resistance of silver based composite materials (CM) reinforced with superelastic hard carbon particles obtained from fullerenes under pressure has been studied. As the carbon phase content increases to 30 wt %, the abrasive wear resistance of the CM increases by two orders of magnitude and the friction coefficient decreases from 1.12 to 0.21. However, the electrical resistivity of the CM increases with increasing carbon content above 10 wt %. Compared with silver, the CM with 10% reinforcing phase is characterized by similar electrical resistivity, a reduced friction coefficient, and substantially higher abrasive resistance and electroerosive wear resistance.