Assessment of the Tribological Behaviour of Self-Lubricating Metal Matrix Composites Developed for Circular Saw Guide Pad Applications

Assessment of the Tribological Behaviour of Self-Lubricating Metal Matrix Composites Developed for Circular Saw Guide Pad Applications | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Assessment of the Tribological Behaviour of Self-Lubricating Metal Matrix Composites Developed for Circular Saw Guide Pad Applications Amir Torkghashghaei, Simon Gélinas, Carl Blais This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8916768/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The development and performance of self-lubricating Cu-Fe-based composites produced via powder metallurgy are examined as an advanced alternative to conventional Babbitt alloy for guide pad applications in high-speed circular saw systems. The proposed composite addresses the inherent limitations of Babbitt, particularly its low mechanical strength and poor wear resistance under high contact pressures, aiming to improve durability and operational reliability. A baseline Cu-5 vol.% Ni-coated graphite (NCG)-6 vol.% CaF₂ composite was reinforced with incremental Fe additions (12–52 vol.%) to enhance mechanical strength while preserving favorable tribological properties. The composites were characterized through pin-on-disk and dry sand rubber wheel (DSRW) wear tests, complemented by the characterization of their mechanical properties (hardness and tensile testing) and detailed microstructural features using SEM/EDS. The results demonstrate that increasing Fe content significantly improves hardness, yield strength, and wear resistance, with the composite containing 42 vol.% Fe achieving the optimal performance balance. This composition exhibited nearly a twofold increase in hardness and an approximately threefold increase in yield strength, along with a 94% reduction in sliding wear during pin-on-disk test and an 81% reduction in abrasive wear compared to Babbitt. These improvements are attributed to the enhanced load-bearing capacity of the Fe-reinforced matrix and the formation of a stable oxide-rich tribolayer that effectively limits direct surface interaction and suppresses material removal. In contrast, excessive Fe content (52 vol.%) led to brittle oxide formation and increased wear due to crack propagation and delamination, confirming the existence of a critical reinforcement threshold. Semi-industrial testing further validated the superior performance of the optimized Cu-Fe-based composite. Compared to Babbitt, the optimized composite demonstrated reduced power consumption and negligible material transfer to the saw blade, indicating improved tribological efficiency. Surface morphology analyses of the guide pads revealed that while Babbitt guide pad experienced severe material loss, the Cu-Fe-based composite maintained a smooth and coherent contact surface with minimal damage. Overall, the Cu-42 vol.%Fe-5 vol.%NCG-6 vol.%CaF 2 - composite emerges as a highly effective and durable replacement for Babbitt guide pads, offering superior wear resistance. Cu–Fe-based composite Powder metallurgy Self-lubricating materials Guide pad Wear resistance Tribological performance Surface morphology Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 26 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 23 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 23 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 19 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8916768","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":598479809,"identity":"2c8d549d-b677-4020-b9ca-5fc51bca727e","order_by":0,"name":"Amir Torkghashghaei","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Université Laval","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Amir","middleName":"","lastName":"Torkghashghaei","suffix":""},{"id":598479810,"identity":"8aabfcfd-72de-4e19-9c0a-57ececcb3ba4","order_by":1,"name":"Simon Gélinas","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Université Laval","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Simon","middleName":"","lastName":"Gélinas","suffix":""},{"id":598479811,"identity":"2b3c432d-4f4d-4b34-b76f-a6d4be738098","order_by":2,"name":"Carl Blais","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABAElEQVRIie3RvWrDMBDA8RMGd0mj9ZaSV7AxlEDz8SoyAneJ9o6BwHX0I/QtgkdDIJOyp5vB4KGTS5aOPcvQTdRjofpjZAT++YQNEAr9zUQt9kuIIarddj4szS+GCTKJldvFw6KmEIBZMo3I10tTiwoXc2lvH+8V5HRn017BZuEjaJ+TWlhMCc3xyVgms12GCnS695AECj4YIV/3x8wQEygUEz6tj8jOkS1J241EdvqLydZLcJzCL99FrSOoz8OU3EfwylNyi5qweIwMYUbYnpcq0dpHZFmI5rNard/KU3sztHooZX649i+btY+41HiL+e/gz2eZVNRPey4UCoX+W9+X9FQfgnA6bQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Université Laval","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Carl","middleName":"","lastName":"Blais","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-19 10:55:16","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8916768/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8916768/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":103860326,"identity":"175648dd-203c-42a7-820b-edf376e4fdc9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-03 19:45:43","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3458982,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Torkghashghaeisbmission.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8916768/v1_covered_89d04fcc-4686-4051-8f8b-004db9b09139.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Assessment of the Tribological Behaviour of Self-Lubricating Metal Matrix Composites Developed for Circular Saw Guide Pad Applications","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":false,"email":"","identity":"journal-of-materials-science-materials-in-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":false,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"VoR Journals","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Cu–Fe-based composite, Powder metallurgy, Self-lubricating materials, Guide pad, Wear resistance, Tribological performance, Surface morphology","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8916768/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8916768/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe development and performance of self-lubricating Cu-Fe-based composites produced via powder metallurgy are examined as an advanced alternative to conventional Babbitt alloy for guide pad applications in high-speed circular saw systems. The proposed composite addresses the inherent limitations of Babbitt, particularly its low mechanical strength and poor wear resistance under high contact pressures, aiming to improve durability and operational reliability. A baseline Cu-5 vol.% Ni-coated graphite (NCG)-6 vol.% CaF₂ composite was reinforced with incremental Fe additions (12\u0026ndash;52 vol.%) to enhance mechanical strength while preserving favorable tribological properties. The composites were characterized through pin-on-disk and dry sand rubber wheel (DSRW) wear tests, complemented by the characterization of their mechanical properties (hardness and tensile testing) and detailed microstructural features using SEM/EDS. The results demonstrate that increasing Fe content significantly improves hardness, yield strength, and wear resistance, with the composite containing 42 vol.% Fe achieving the optimal performance balance. This composition exhibited nearly a twofold increase in hardness and an approximately threefold increase in yield strength, along with a 94% reduction in sliding wear during pin-on-disk test and an 81% reduction in abrasive wear compared to Babbitt. These improvements are attributed to the enhanced load-bearing capacity of the Fe-reinforced matrix and the formation of a stable oxide-rich tribolayer that effectively limits direct surface interaction and suppresses material removal. In contrast, excessive Fe content (52 vol.%) led to brittle oxide formation and increased wear due to crack propagation and delamination, confirming the existence of a critical reinforcement threshold. Semi-industrial testing further validated the superior performance of the optimized Cu-Fe-based composite. Compared to Babbitt, the optimized composite demonstrated reduced power consumption and negligible material transfer to the saw blade, indicating improved tribological efficiency. Surface morphology analyses of the guide pads revealed that while Babbitt guide pad experienced severe material loss, the Cu-Fe-based composite maintained a smooth and coherent contact surface with minimal damage. Overall, the Cu-42 vol.%Fe-5 vol.%NCG-6 vol.%CaF\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e- composite emerges as a highly effective and durable replacement for Babbitt guide pads, offering superior wear resistance.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Assessment of the Tribological Behaviour of Self-Lubricating Metal Matrix Composites Developed for Circular Saw Guide Pad Applications","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-03 19:45:33","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8916768/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"22942806270807662918158990913220214282","date":"2026-02-28T09:51:43+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"272643486747258368838478255110060394541","date":"2026-02-27T08:00:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-26T08:07:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-23T06:51:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-02-23T06:47:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineering","date":"2026-02-19T10:50:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":false,"email":"","identity":"journal-of-materials-science-materials-in-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":false,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"VoR Journals","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"059b0676-541e-4874-ac99-7d9eac400c50","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 3rd, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-18T02:09:54+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-03 19:45:33","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8916768","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8916768","identity":"rs-8916768","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}