Abstract
Alloys used as bearings in aircraft landing gear are required to reduce friction and wear as well as improve the load-carrying capability due to the increased aircraft weights. Cu-15Ni-8Sn-0.8Nb alloy is well known for possessing good mechanical and wear properties that satisfy such requirements. In this study, the microstructure, mechanical properties, and grease-lubricated sliding wear behavior of Cu-15Ni-8Sn-0.8Nb alloy with 0.8 wt% Nb are investigated. The nanoscale NbNi3 and NbNi2Sn compounds can strengthen the alloy through the Orowan strengthening mechanism. A Stribeck-like curve is plotted to illustrate the relationship among friction coefficient, normal load, and sliding velocity and to analyze the grease-lubricated mechanism. The wear rate increases with normal load and decreases with sliding velocity, except at 2.58 m/s. A wear mechanism map has been developed to exhibit the dominant wear mechanisms under various friction conditions. When the normal load is 700 N and the sliding velocity is 2.58 m/s, a chemical reaction between the lubricating grease and friction pairs occurs, resulting in the failure of lubricating grease and an increase in wear.
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The authors would like to express their gratitude for the financial support provided by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2017YFB0306105 and 2018YFE0306100).
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Jinjuan CHENG. She received her bachelor degree in physics from Hengyang Normal University, China, in 2006 and got her master degree from Lanzhou University of technology in 2010. Currently, she is a Ph.D. canditate at Powder Metallurgy Research Institute at Central South University, China. Her current research interests include the preparation, microstructure evolution, and properties of ultra-high-strength and high toughness Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloys and Cu-based self-lubricating composites.
Mincong MAO. He received his bachelor degree in materials science from Henan University of Science and Technology, China, in 2017. Currently, he is a master student at Powder Metallurgy Research Institute at Central South University, China. His current research interest focuses on the composition design and preparation of Cu-Fe alloys with high strength and high conductivity.
Xueping GAN. He received his bachelor and master degrees in nonferrous metallurgy from Central South University, China, in 1999 and 2002, respectively. In 2007, he received his Ph.D. degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Then, he joined the Powder Metallurgy Research Institute at Central South University. His current position is a professor. He has published over 50 journal papers and authorized over 10 invention patents. His current research interests cover the design, preparation, and characterization of high-performance Cu alloys and Cu-based composites, porous metal materials, and cermet.
Qian LEI. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the School of Materials and Engineering, Central South University, China, in 2014. He visited the RWTH-Aachen in Germany, 2013–2014, then he conducted his doctoral research at the University of Michigan till 2018. He is currently an associate professor in the State Key Lab for Powder Metallurgy at the Central South University. His research interests cover the design, preparation, microstructures, and mechanical behaviors of highstrength and high-conductivity copper alloys.
Zhou LI. He received his Ph.D. degree from Central South University in 2002. His current position is a professor, the candidate of Hunan province’s New Century 121 Talent Project. His current research interests cover the design, fabrication, and characterization of high-performance Cu alloys, cathode materials, and composites for electronic vacuum devices. He has presided over 20 research projects, published over 200 journal papers, and authorized over 20 invention patents.
Kechao ZHOU. He received his bachelor degree in physics from Hunan Normal University in 1982 and obtained his master degree in solid-state physics from the University of Science and Technology Beijing in 1989. In 1998, he received his Ph.D. degree in materials science from Central South University. He is a professor and the vice president of Central South University. His current research interests include new powder metallurgy materials and the corresponding near-net forming theory, and technology and metal/ceramic biomedical composites.
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Cheng, J., Mao, M., Gan, X. et al. Microstructures, mechanical properties, and grease-lubricated sliding wear behavior of Cu-15Ni-8Sn-0.8Nb alloy with high strength and toughness. Friction 9, 1061–1076 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-020-0399-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-020-0399-7