The oxidation mechanism of vermicular graphite cast iron was studied. The oxidation reaction starts from graphites and diffused slowly. Graphites in vermicular graphite are interconnected, coral-like clusters, providing the main oxidation core and channel. The worm-like graphites on the surface are mostly oxidized and form oxide affected zones. The oxide films are composed of a loose oxide layer with the phases of Fe₃O₄, Fe₂O₃, and FeO, and a dense passivation layer with FeO and Fe₂SiO₄. After oxidation, pearlites in the vermicular graphite cast iron are decomposed into ferrite and cementite at high temperatures.

A binary C/C brake disc (i.e., the test brake disc) was prepared with a C/C (pyrolytic carbon/resin carbon) matrix using modified natural gas as the carbon source through the isothermal chemical vapor infiltration (ICVI) process with a directed flow and the pressure impregnation carbonization (PIC) process with liquid-phase furfural acetone resin. The microstructural, mechanical, thermal, friction and wear properties of the test brake disc were comprehensively analyzed and compared with commercial ones. The results showed that the production efficiency of the test brake disc was 36% higher than that of the commercial ones, which were manufactured through a thermal-gradient chemical vapor infiltration (TCVI) process. The favorable mechanical and thermal properties of the test brake disc were comparable to the commercial ones. While the test brake disc had a more consistently rough laminar microstructure on the worn surface of the brake disc than the commercial ones, this avoided the annular grinding grooves on the worn surface after the braking tests. In addition, the test brake disc had a stable friction coefficient with a low dispersion coefficient of 3.90%, which would improve the friction stability of C/C brake discs used in aircrafts.

Hard coatings have important protective effects on the surface of engineering parts due to their high hardness and decent anti-wear properties

Oxidation of Al-Sn bearing alloy occurs during production, processing and use, which reduces both alloy performance and performance of coatings applied to the alloy surface. Therefore, the oxidation mechanism of Al-Sn bearing alloy is studied at 25, 180, 300, and 500 °C. The oxidation morphologies of the alloy were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the oxidation products were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The oxidation weight gain curves were obtained by thermogravimetric analysis. The experimental results show that: Al-Sn bearing alloy is oxidized quickly to form Al₂O₃. As the oxidation temperature increases, Sn phase start to precipitate along the grain boundary and form networked spheroids of Sn on the alloy surface. The amount of precipitation increases with further increase of the oxidation temperature. Cracks and holes are left in the alloy. The oxide layer is mainly composed of Sn, SnO₂, and Al₂O₃. At 25 °C, oxidation rate of Al-Sn alloy approach zero. At 180, 300, and 500 °C, the oxidation rate increases quickly conforming to a power function, and eventually remains stable at about 3 × 10⁻⁶ mg·mm⁻²·s⁻¹.