Friction properties of new porous carbon materials: Woodceramics

Abstract

Woodceramics are new porous carbon materials obtained from wood or woody materials impregnated with phenol resin, and carbonized in a vacuum furnace at high temperature. Woodceramics have several superior characteristics from the viewpoints of engineering materials and ecological materials: they are hard and strong, have porous structure and low density, are made from natural resources, do not cause environmental pollution, and are cheap to manufacture. This paper describes the fundamental friction properties of Woodceramics in sliding contact with several materials. Woodceramics made of medium density fiberboard (MDF) and beech impregnated with phenol resin and carbonized in a vacuum furnace at 800°C and 2000°C were rubbed against alumina, silicon nitride, bearing steel and diamond by using a reciprocating friction apparatus. Experiments were carried out unlubricated in air, impregnated with base oil and in water, at several normal loads and sliding velocities. The following principal results were obtained: (1) The friction coefficient is around 0.15, under all three lubrication conditions; (2) The friction coefficient slightly decreases and then stays constant with increasing normal load; (3) The friction coefficient is not affected by sliding velocity; (4) Woodceramics have a good self-lubricity.