Tribological Properties and Microstructure of the Metal-Polymer Composite thin Layer Deposited on a Copper Plate by Electrocontact Sintering

The properties of the electrocontact sintered metal-polymer composite materials are strongly determined by the heat flow taking place during sintering, which, in turn, is influenced by the amount and initial distribution of the polymer particles in the metal matrix. In case of the metal-polymer powder mixture in the form of a thin layer deposited on the bulk metal substrate, the influence of the latter is also taken into consideration. Thus, the model simulating the heating and sintering of the thin layer made of metal-polymer powder mixture on a metal plate is proposed. Based on mathematical calculations relating to the model describing the thermal state of the system, it is shown how heat flow fields are formed within the layer, depending on the polymer content and its distribution. These theoretical simulations seem to be useful in optimising the production of the antifriction metal-polymer layer on a bulk copper substrate by electrocontact sintering. The results of the tribological experiments and microstructural observations are in a good agreement with the theoretical model.