Research on tensile strength and impact toughness of copper matrix pantograph slider material

In order to prepare graphite/copper composites with excellent mechanical properties, a traditional powder metallurgy (PM) method was adopted with large granularity graphites of 295 μm and 495 μm respectively. The mass fraction of C in pantograph slider samples was raised to 8% for the first time. The influences of compacting pressure, sintering time and sintering temperature on its tensile strength and impact toughness were analyzed. The effects of graphite granularity and copper-coated graphite on its performance were also investigated. Results show that increasing the pressure, its ultimate tensile strength increases. Lengthening the sintering time leads to the decrease of ultimate tensile strength. Too high or too low sintering temperature is harmful to its tensile strength and impact toughness. The graphite particle size affects the properties magnificently. The copper-coated graphite can improve the sintering process of copper matrix pantograph slider, increase its ultimate tensile strength and impact toughness, but doesn't change its fracture mechanism.