Tribological study of sintered iron based and copper based brake materials by pin-on-disc method

In this study, iron based and copper based sintered brake materials have been investigated. Iron and copper based brake materials have been produced by powder metallurgy method. Hardness, experimental and theoretical density, porosity measurements and metallographic analysis have been performed to examine microstructure. Pin-on-disc tests have been carried out to understand friction behavior, to get the average coefficient of friction and to calculate wear rates of specimens. Pin-on-disc tests have been done at different radiuses (4, 6 and 9 mm), at different velocities (85, 100 and mm x s(-1)) and under a load of around 6.5 N. Test results show that the specimens have high porosity (25 to 26 %) because of the production methods. The phases and porosities can be also observed by metallographic analysis. Iron based brake materials have a lower coefficient of friction and lower wear rates in comparison with copper based brake materials. But copper based brake materials have a more stable abrasion profile during test period.