Effect of Carbon Fiber Addition on Ceramic Reinforced Phenolic Resin Based Friction Composites

Abstract

Carbon fibers have been used as additional reinforcing fibers to improve the mechanical and tribological properties of phenolic resin-based ceramic-carbon composites. The composites comprising ceramic particulates such as Silicon carbide, Boron carbide of 1-30 micron size as reinforcement and phenolic resin as matrix carbon precursor were prepared by compaction method followed by carbonization to 1000 °C in inert atmosphere. Experimental results indicate that carbonization results in decrease in thickness and weight, the amount of reduction increasing with addition of carbon fibers results in compact high density composites. Composites comprising of 10 wt. % fibers exhibited maximum hardness, compressive strength and density after carbonization. Tribological properties of the composites were evaluated against Cr6 ball using a pin-on-disc Tribometer with different linear speed, sliding distance and load conditions. It was found that the composites filled with lower amount of carbon fibers showed relatively higher friction coefficient value. Also, it was noted that friction coefficient increases with increase in the applied load (1N, 2N and 5N) and linear speed.