Tribological properties of carbon-nanotube-reinforced copper composites

Tribological properties of carbon-nanotube-reinforced copper composites wer e investigated using a pin-on-disk test rig under dry conditions. The compo sites containing 4-16 vol% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated by a pow der-metallurgy technique. The tests were carried out at normal loads betwee n 10 and 50 N, and the effect of volume fraction of CNTs on tribological be havior of the composites was examined. The composites revealed a low coeffi cient of friction compared with the copper matrix ahoy Due to the effects o f the reinforcement and reduced friction, the wear rate of the composites d ecreased with increasing volume fraction of CNTs at low and intermediate lo ads. The composites with a high volume fraction of CNTs exhibited high poro sity and their wear resistance decreased under high-load conditions.