Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites (CFRP) demonstrate superior wear resistance and fatigue durability, which are anticipated to markedly enhance the service life of structures under complex conditions. In the present paper, the friction behaviors and wear mechanisms of CFRP under different applied loads, sliding speeds, service temperatures, and water lubrication were studied and analyzed in detail. The results indicated that the tribological properties of CFRP were predominantly influenced by the applied loads, as the tangential displacement generated significant shear stress at the interface of the friction pair. Serviced temperature was the next most impactful factor, while the influence of water lubrication remained minimal. Moreover, when subjected to a load of 2000 g, the wear rate and scratch width of the samples exhibited increases of 158% and 113%, respectively, compared to those loaded with 500 g. This observed escalation in wear characteristics can be attributed to irreversible debonding damage at the fiber/resin interface, leading to severe delamination wear. At elevated temperatures of 100 °C and 120 °C, the wear rate of CFRP increased by 75% and 112% compared to that at room temperature. This augmentation in wear was attributed to the transition of the epoxy resin from a glassy to an elastic state, which facilitated enhanced fatigue wear. Furthermore, both sliding speed and water lubrication displayed a negligible influence on the friction coefficient of CFRP, particularly under water lubrication conditions at 60 °C, where the friction coefficient was only 15%. This was because the lubricant properties and thermal management provided by the water molecules, which mitigated the frictional interactions, led to only minor abrasive wear. In contrast, the wear rate of CFRP at a sliding speed of 120 mm/s was found to be 74% greater than that observed at 60 mm/s. This significant increase can be attributed to the disparity in sliding rates, which induced uncoordinated deformation in the surface and subsurface of the CFRP, resulting in adhesive wear.

Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites (CFRP) have excellent properties such as anti-wear and fatigue resistance, which are expected to significantly improve the service life of structures under complex conditions. In the present paper, the friction behaviors and wear mechanisms of CFRP under complex environment of different applied loads, sliding speeds, service temperatures and water lubrication were studied and analyzed in detail. It was found that the friction and wear properties of CFRP were most sensitive to the applied loads, because the tangential displacement caused large shear stress at the friction pair interface, the serviced temperature second, and water lubrication had minimal effect. Compared with 500 g, the wear rate and scratch width of samples loaded with 2000 g increased by 155.9% and 111.0%, which was attributed to the irreversible debonding damage at the fiber/resin interface under high load friction, leading to severe delamination wear. Compared with room temperature, the wear rate of CFRP at 100 ℃ and 120 ℃ increased by 72.5% and 109.2%, which was attributed to the fact that the elevated temperature condition changed the epoxy resin from glassy to elastic state, and excessive plastic deformation led to fatigue wear of CFRP. In addition, the sliding speed and water lubrication had an insignificant effect on the friction coefficient of CFRP (less than 20%), especially under the 60 ℃ water lubrication condition, and it was only 13.4%. This was because the lubrication functions and heat dissipation of water molecules alleviated the friction state of CFRP/ball interface, and only slight abrasive wear occurred. The wear rate of CFRP at 120 mm/s was 77.9% higher than that at 60 mm/s, which was attributed to the large rate difference resulting in uncoordinated deformation of the CFRP surface and subsurface, resulting in adhesive wear.