Copper-coated graphite particles can be mass-produced by the cementation process using simple equipment.
Graphite particulates that were coated with electroless copper and 5 wt.% SiC particulates were
introduced into an aluminum alloy by compocasting to make A359 Al/5 wt.% SiC(p) composite that
contained 2, 4, 6, and 8 wt.% graphite particulate composite. The effects of SiC particles, quantity of
graphite particles, normal loading, sliding speed and wear debris on the coefficient of friction, and the wear
rate were investigated. The results thus obtained indicate that the wear properties were improved by adding
small amounts of SiC and graphite particles into the A359 Al alloy. The coefficient of friction of the A359
Al/5 wt.% SiC(p) composite that contained 6.0 wt.% graphite particulates was reduced to 0.246 and the
amount of graphite film that was released on the worn surface increased with the graphite particulate
content. The coefficient of friction and the wear rate were insensitive to the variation in the sliding speed
and normal loading.
Relation:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance 22(1), pp.94-103
