Wear mechanism of carbon fiber reinforced paper-based friction material

Paper-based friction material was prepared with carbon fiber as the main reinforcement using paper-making process. The friction and wear behavior of samples with different braking cycles were investigated. The roughness, 3D profilometry, micro-topography and thermal degradation process of worn surfaces were analyzed. And the wear mechanism was investigated. Experimental results show that the roughness value of the worn surface decreased greatly and the wear stage changed gradually from "run-in wear" to "stable wear" with the increasing braking cycles. The asperities of the materials were polished and microhores in the surface were gradually filled indicating the fatigue wear of the friction material. The thermal degradation curve of the worn layer possessed a new peak in the range of 320-450°C reflecting the thermal wear of the materials. But the feature of abrasive wear was not apparent.