Modifying C/C–SiC brake pads with different Fe–Si alloy phases to improve the wear resistance of full-carbon/ceramic brake pair

The full-carbon/ceramic brake pair is designed to meet the increased demands for reliable braking at high speeds, heavy loads and complex service environments for vehicle and power machinery. In this paper, braking performance of different Fe–Si modified C/C–SiC composites have been studied using laboratory scale dynamometer. The phase composition/microstructure and mechanical properties of the material were studied. By mating with C/C–SiC brake disc, the effect of Fe–Si alloy modification on the friction and wear performance of full carbon/ceramic brake pair was investigated. The results indicated that the Fe–Si modification can effectively improve the wear resistance of both C/C–SiC disc and pads, and the disc/pads will have the least amount of wear only when the appropriate type of Fe–Si alloy and the suitable amount of Fe–Si alloy phase are introduced. When FeSi75 was used as the fusion infiltration material, the wear of disc/pad was 115.4 and 13.3 mm, respectively. Compared to the unmodified C/C–SiC disc/pad, the wear of Fe–Si modification disc/pad was reduced by 72.7 % and 87.2 %, respectively.