Enhanced Hardness and Tribological Properties of Copper-Based Steel Backing Self-Lubricating Materials with YO Micro-Doping.

The copper-based steel backing material is prepared using a combination of mechanical alloying and secondary sintering methods. The effect of YO content on the microstructure, hardness, and tribological properties of the copper-based self-lubricating layer is investigated. The results demonstrate that the addition of YO enhances the strength of the copper-based self-lubricating layer. Graphite and YO act synergistically to form a three-dimensional supporting framework, thereby boosting the overall strength of the copper-based composite material and increasing its Brinell hardness by 27%. Additionally, the incorporation of YO effectively improves the tribological properties of the composite material, significantly reducing wear during the friction process and decreasing the wear rate by 77%. Under the experimental conditions, the optimal YO content is determined to be 1 wt%.