Dry-Sliding Tribological Properties of Bronze-Graphite Composites

Bronze-uncoated and nickel-coated graphite composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy route. The tribological behaviors of composites sliding against AISI52100 steel ball under dry sliding condition were studied using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The nickel-coated graphite composites showed much better tribological properties in comparison with bronze and uncoated graphite composite. The friction coefficient of nickel-coated graphite composites decreased with increasing nickel-coated graphite content. However, the specific wear rate increased with the increase in nickel-coated graphite. The composite containing 15 wt% nickel-coated graphite showed the best self-lubricating properties because the compacted and stable mechanical mixed layer was formed on the worn surfaces. The wear mechanism of bronze 663 is adhesive wear and abrasive wear. The uncoated nickel-coated graphite composite shows the adhesive wear and delamination characteristics. However, the wear mechanism of nickel-coated composites is mildly abrasive wear.