621.762Success in research, production and testing of composite materials is considered. Fields of their practical application are discussed. New methods for forming friction components and coatings on them are analyzed. It is shown that the main research in the field of friction materials is concentrated on composites with metal, ceramic, and carbon matrices.Analysis of available information in the field of friction material indicates that in the last ten years there has been a rapid increase in interest in composites as a promising class of materials for application in brake and transmission devices of contemporary machines. Friction materials of the new generation are researched and developed in England, Germany, China, Russia, the USA, France, the Czech Republic, Japan, and other countries. Materials of this class are recommended for application or they are already in use in aviation, railway transport, trucks and buses, racing cars and other machines [1-6].
MATERIALS WITH A METAL MATRIXComposites with a metal matrix are distinguished by high strength, heat resistance and toughness, and corrosion resistance. Their matrix is reinforced with continuous or short fibers, wires, whiskers (filamentary single crystals) or they contain strengthening powder particles (oxides, carbides, borides, and others). The matrices used are Al, Mg, Ti, Cu or their alloys. In order to reinforce the matrix on a commercial scale there is use of carbon, boron, metal and ceramic fibers. In the majority of cases continuous fibers have a diameter of not more than 100 µm, and whiskers have a diameters of several micrometers with a length of about 1 µm. Alongside fibers in the material there are fine particles of a different composition, different shape, and with a size of several micrometers.There is information in [7] about the development of lightweight brake disks with a matrix that is an aluminum alloy strengthened with SiC particles. The density of the material is 2.77 g/cm 3 , and the Young's modulus and strength are 99 GPa and 252 MPa, respectively. The material is also characterized by high heat conductivity and good tribological properties.The firm "Alanx Wear Solutions" (USA), that specializes in the production of metals with maximum wear resistance under extreme operating conditions (for example at high pressure and temperature), has suggested a new composite material. It consists of 75 mass% SiC with different sizes of particles (in order to obtain the optimum density) uniformly distributed within the matrix consisting of 7 mass% metal Al and 18 mass% ceramic based on aluminum oxide [8]. The composite is distinguished by a homogeneous microstructure providing uniform article wear, by high dimensional accuracy, extremely high stability under wear conditions, the possibility of machining with an accuracy of ±0.2 mm, and very high surface quality after finishing.