Microstructure and tribological properties of 3D needle-punched C/C–SiC brake composites

Carbon fibre reinforced carbon and silicon carbide dual matrix composites (C/C–SiC) show excellent tribological properties and are promising candidates for advanced friction materials. A pressure infiltration/carbonization combined with liquid silicon infiltration was developed for fabricating C/C–SiC composites. The carbon fabric preform was fabricated with the three-dimensional needling method. In the pressure infiltration process, the carbon fibre reinforced plastic was prepared by infiltration of the fabric preform with the furan resin. Then the carbon fibre reinforced plastic was carbonized which was pyrolysed to form a porous carbon/carbon composites. Finally, the porous carbon/carbon was infiltrated with molten silicon to obtain C/C–SiC composites. The composites exhibit excellent friction behavior, including a good stability of brake, and the average dynamic μ is 0.38 and static μ is 0.50, in combination with the linear wear rate of about 5.6 μm cycle−1. Moreover, the friction surface was covered with friction film which is about 10 μm in thickness. These results show that the C/C–SiC brake composites are promising candidates for advanced brake and clutch systems.

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