Friction and wear properties of three dimensional needle-punched carbon/silicon carbide braking material

A carbon fiber reinforced carbon (C/C) composite with density of 1.20 g/cm³ was prepared by single-direction pressure infiltration in combination with pressure curing and carbonization; then three dimensional needle-punched carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) braking material with a density of 2.11 g/cm³ was prepared by reaction melt infiltration. The friction and wear properties and microstructure characteristics of the composite were investigated. The results show that the average wear rate of the braking disks increases with the increasing of brake speed. The average coefficient of friction (COF) rises to the maximum of 0.57 at 15 m/s and then falls. The COF curve rises smoothly and stably at low braking speed; however, it shows obvious vibration at high speed. There are large-particle debris and obvious grooves on the friction surface at low speed; however, the grooves disappear and the surface is covered by micron-particle debris at high speed.