Tensile and Friction Properties of Tin Bronze Matrix Composites Reinforced by Carbon Fibers

Copper-coated carbon fibers and carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced tin bronze matrix composites were prepared by chemical plating and powder metallurgy, respectively. Copper-coated CFs were characterized with field emission scanning electron microscope. The effects of CF volume fraction on the friction properties and tensile properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that the composites exhibited lower friction coefficient and higher tensile strength than tin bronze 6-6-3 with the chemical composition of Cu-6 wt%Sn-6%Zn-3%Pb. The friction coefficient of the composites decreased with the increasing of the CF volume fraction. The composite with 9 vol.% CFs showed the highest hardness and tensile strength, which were, respectively, about 1.8× and 1.68× higher than those of the tin bronze 6-6-3.