The mechanical and tribological properties of Cu-based powder metallurgy(P/M) friction composites containing 10wt%–50wt% oxide-dispersion-strengthened(ODS) Cu reinforced with nano-Al_2O_3 were investigated. Additionally, the friction and wear behaviors as well as the wear mechanism of the Cu-based composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS) elemental mapping. The results indicated that the Cu-based friction composite containing 30wt% ODS Cu exhibited the highest hardness and shear strength. The average and instantaneous friction coefficient curves of this sample, when operated in a high-speed train at a speed of 300 km/h, were similar to those of a commercial disc brake pad produced by Knorr-Bremse AG(Germany). Additionally, the lowest linear wear loss of the obtained samples was(0.008 ± 0.001) mm per time per face, which is much lower than that of the Knorr-Bremse pad((0.01 ± 0.001) mm). The excellent performance of the developed pad is a consequence of the formation of a dense oxide composite layer and its close combination with the pad body. The mechanical and tribological properties of Cu-based powder metallurgy (P / M) friction composites containing 10 wt% -50 wt% oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) Cu reinforced with nano-Al 2 O 3 were investigated. as the wear mechanism of the Cu-based composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) elemental mapping. The results indicated that the Cu-based friction composite containing 30 wt% ODS Cu exhibited the highest hardness and shear strength. The average and instantaneous friction coefficient curves of this sample, when operated in a high-speed train at a speed of 300 km / h, were similar to those of a commercial disc brake pad produced by Knorr- Bremse AG (Germany). Additionally, the lowest linear wear loss of the obtained samples was (0.008 ± 0.001) mm per time per face, which is much lower than that of the Knorr-Bremse pad ((0.01 ± 0.001) mm). The excel lent performance of the developed pad is a consequence of the formation of a dense oxide composite layer and its close combination with the pad body.