Anti-friction properties of Cu10Sn-based composite containing nanometer diamond particles

Cu10Sn-based composite containing nanometer diamond was prepared for investigating the effect of nanometer diamond on reducing friction of the composite. A good distribution of nanometer diamond in the matrix of Cu10Sn was obtained by a special process. The friction test was carried out with a hardened AISI 52100 steel ring rotating against block-shaped samples. The results showed that the composite has a higher hardness and a lower bend strength compared with the reference Cu10Sn alloy. Under a normal pressure of 4.0 MPa and a range of sliding speed from 0.26 to 1.56 m/s, the friction coefficient of the composite is almost constant and much lower than that of Cu10Sn. Based on the observations of worn surfaces and the morphology of wear debris, it is indicated that the motion mode of quasi-spherical wear debris containing nanometer diamond is the main factor for the reduction of friction coefficient.