Study on the Tribological Behavior of the Foamed Copper Filled with Epoxy Matrix

Abstract

In order to improve the thermal performance and wear resistance of the polymer, foamed copper filled by the curable epoxy-matrix composite are developed as tribological materials. Graphite and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were incorporated the contents as friction additives. The tribological properties of the foamed-copper reinforced composites were investigated on an UMT-2 friction and wear tester. An electric field was imposed between the specimen and disc to monitor the formation of transfer film by means of contact resistance. It is found that the foamed-copper reinforced composites possess better wear resistance than homologous polymers, and the smaller is the aperture, the better the wear resistance. While the friction coefficients increase for the local direct contact between the copper and the steel disc. The copper skeletons contribute to the timely transfer of friction heat and the load-sharing. The foamed-copper unit was modeled from the foaming mechanism of the polyurethane foam. Two parameters of the surface area density of foamed copper and the area ratio of copper at the friction interface were quantized based on two kinds of typical contact models. The modeling analysis can lead to a better understand the influence of metallic skeletons on the wear performance of composite.