Performances and failure mechanism of semi-metallic friction materials doping rare earths

In order to improve performance of semi-metallic friction material,the specimens doped with rare earth(cerous nitrate) were prepared.The effects of rare earth(cerous nitrate) and post heat treatment on properties of friction materials were discussed,and failure mechanism of friction materials was also analyzed.The result showed that the existing of cerous nitrate could stabilize friction coefficient,lower wear rate and increase impact strength,and when the content of the cerous nitrate was 3.0 wt.%,the semi-metallic friction material possessed optimal performances.The different post heat treatments had an influence on the friction coefficient,wear rate and linear thermal expansion coefficient of semi-metallic friction material.The worn surface and fractured surface were observed and analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy(SEM).It was identified that the semi-metallic friction materials doped with cerous nitrate acted abrasive wear and adhesive wear at the low temperature,and abrasive wear,adhesive wear and fatigue wear of materials appeared at the high temperature.The fracture of materials might be the result of matrix cracking interacting with interface separation.