Wear mechanisms of carbon fiber‐reinforced resin matrix composite at extreme temperatures

Abstract This study investigated the tribological behaviors of carbon fiber‐reinforced resin matrix composites under extreme temperatures, ranging from‐50°C (low temperature) to 175°C (high temperature). The results show that, as temperature increases, the frictional coefficient initially rises before decreasing, while the wear amount consistently increases. The resin matrix exhibits high sensitivity to temperature variations, significantly affecting the wear behaviors of the composite. Notably, at 175°C, the angle between the relative sliding direction and fiber orientation becomes a key factor in determining the wear resistance of the composite. On this basis, a comparison of the friction energy dissipated by unit mass of the composite at various temperatures indicates that both wear resistance and frictional energy dissipation capacity decrease as the ambient temperature increases. In addition, we think that the combination of ambient temperature and friction‐induced temperature rise determines the range of the friction coefficients during the friction and wear process. These findings offer valuable insights for the use of carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer matrix composite as wear‐resistant materials. Highlights Resin softening at high temperature reduces wear resistance. Low temperature enhances hardness and improves wear resistance. Fiber orientation increasingly impacts wear as temperature rises. Capacity of frictional work dissipation decreases with temperature rises. Frictional coefficient is related to ambient temperature and frictional heat.