Tribological Properties of a C/C–SiC–Cu Composite Brake Disc

Abstract

A life-size composite brake disc was produced from Si, carbon–carbon composite, copper, and phenol resin. The disc had an outer radius Ø380, inner radius Ø180, and thickness of 36 mm. Chopped carbon fibers were used to reinforce frictional and structural layers. To obtain a preform of each layer, resin and carbon-fibers were mixed and hot-pressed. The preforms were pyrolyzed, and bonded by hot pressing. Finally Si and Cu infiltration in vacuum atmosphere was carried out to obtain a C/C–SiC–Cu_xSi_y composite brake disc. The density of the disc was 2.17 g/cm³. The bending strength was 61 MPa. The heat transfer coefficients in vertical and horizontal directions were 30.7, and 85.2 W/m-°C at 25°C, respectively. Friction coefficients of the C/C–SiC–Cu_xSi_y brake disc were more stable than those of C/C–SiC brake discs. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that Cu formed a compound, Cu₃Si.