Wear and mechanical properties of sintered copper–tin composites containing graphite or molybdenum disulfide

Copper-based sintered composites produced by powder metallurgy processes are now widely used in tribological engineering parts, e.g. bearings and bushes. Also composites based on copper–tin alloys containing a solid lubricant have been developed as self-lubricating materials under extreme conditions of load, atmosphere and temperature. It is well known that the addition of graphite serves to reduce friction and wear in copper–tin alloys. However it should be noted that the addition of graphite or molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has an adverse effect on the composites’ mechanical properties.