Tribological characterization of carbon/carbon - silicon carbide composites exposed to freezing conditions

Present article aims to investigate the tribological behavior of carbon/carbon-silicon carbide (C/C-SiC) ceramic composites exposed to freezing environment. Normal load, sliding velocity and laminate orientation were varied in this investigation. Load was varied from 20 N to 60 N in the steps of 10 N. The sliding velocities were varied ranging 1 m/s, 1.5 m/s, 2 m/s, 2.5 m/s and 3 m/s. The results showed that tribological behavior of C/C-SiC composites changed with normal load, sliding velocity and laminate orientation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of worn surfaces showed that the mechanism and synergism between wear debris morphology, adsorption and desorption of water molecules, and friction film formation described the tribological behavior of C/C-SiC composites. Coefficient of friction (COF) of composites with parallel orientation of laminates was higher as compared to normal orientation of laminates. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.