Tribological properties of pitch-based 2-D carbon-carbon composites

The present study reports the tribological properties of various two dimens ional carbon-carbon (C-C) composites composed of pitch coke reinforced with graphitized chopped PAN fiber and 8 H/S carbon yam fabric. An experimental investigation was made of the effects of carbon fiber type, densification process parameters, kinetic energy loading, and friction surface morphology on the tribological properties of C-C composites. Experimental results ind icate that heal treatment temperature of chopped carbon fiber, applied pres sure during carbonization cycle, carbon fabric exposure on the friction sur face, and kinetic energy loading Strongly affect both the friction coeffici ent and the wear rate. The exposure of fabric filler at the friction surfac e was found to have a dominant effect on the increase of friction coefficie nt and wear rate. It was also found that the friction coefficient decreases but wear rate increases with increasing kinetic energy loading. Furthermor e, the wear rate and friction coefficients are strongly dependent not only on the PV (pressure x velocity) value but also on the kinetic energy loadin g. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.