Sliding friction and wear behavior of Cu-20 vol.% Nb in situ composite
sliding against a tool steel disk was studied under dry ambient condi
tions. Studies were directed towards the understanding of the roles of
the filament and the matrix materials during sliding. It was found th
at Nb filaments underwent reorientation, shearing and refinement. Irre
spective of their prior orientation, Nb filaments close to the contact
surface were oriented along the sliding direction. These processes re
sulted from friction-induced surface deformation and led to the streng
thening of the subsurface layer of the composite. There was no separat
ion of Nb filaments from Cu matrix observed in the sliding process. Th
e effects of annealing, sliding speed and filament orientation on the
friction and wear behavior of the composite were also investigated. Th
e micromechanisms of wear were studied by scanning electron microscopy
. Surface deformation, filament reorientation and refinement, and oxid
ation seemed to play important roles in the friction and wear processe
s.