Abstract
It is very important to study the corrosion behavior of composite brake materials for their design, manufacture, and application. In the study, one kind of composite brake material used in engineering machinery, two kinds used in automobiles, and gray cast iron HT200 were selected as tested materials. Their corrosion behavior in typical acid solution, alkali solution, salt solution, running water, and air were investigated. The results showed that some components of composite brake materials, such as iron matrix, steel fiber, and iron powder, were easily subject to corrosion in acid solution. Corrosive pitting, netβlike cracking, and breakage appeared at their corrosion surfaces, and in the solution of 3.5% NaCl, corrosive pitting took place and corrosion holes of 2β8 Β΅m diameter formed at the corrosion surface of these components. But when brake materials were exposed to the solution of 5% NaOH, the organic binder was corroded seriously, nearly parallel cracks formed at the corrosion surface and some samples even became loose powders because the corrosion makes the binder lose its adhering function. In running water and air, the tested samples have an excellent corrosion resistance, and the composite brake material containing organic binder has a better corrosion resistance compared with other tested materials. The investigation has also indicated that the interface between ingredients easily corrodes.