Influence of Sintering Process on Mechanical and Tribological Properties of 3D-Mesh-Structure-Reinforced Cu-Based Friction Materials

<b>Background</b>: Cu-based friction materials (CBFMs) exhibit significant application in transportation and mechanical engineering due to their excellent wear resistance, thermal conductivity, and stable tribological performance. <b>Methods</b>: In this study, CBFMs holding a 3D mesh reinforcement structure was prepared under different sintering temperatures and sintering times. The phase, mechanical, and tribological properties were tested, and the wear mechanisms were analyzed. <b>Results</b>: The results showed that with an increase in sintering temperature, compressive strength showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, COF showed a decreasing trend first and then an increasing trend, and wear rate showed a decreasing trend that can be attributed to the different strength of the matrix and 3D mesh reinforcement structure at different sintering temperatures. With an increase in sintering time, COF continuously increased and wear rate sustained a decrease. <b>Conclusions</b>: Compared with previous studies, this study revealed the influence mechanism of sintering temperature and sintering time on the comprehensive properties of CBFMs holding a 3D mesh reinforcement structure for the first time. The results can provide data support for the performance improvement of CBFMs holding a 3D mesh reinforcement structure, and lay a theoretical foundation for the further study of powder metallurgy materials.