Effect of Ti3AlC2 Content on Electrical Friction and Wear Behaviors of Cu-Ti3AlC2 Composites

The effect of Ti3AlC2 content on electrical friction and wear behaviors of Cu-Ti3AlC2 composites is investigated. Composites with different volume ratios of Ti3AlC2 are prepared by the hot-pressing method, and experiments are performed on a block-on-ring sliding electrical wear tester. The results demonstrate that with increasing Ti3AlC2 content, the contact voltage drops of the Cu-Ti3AlC2 composites increase, the friction coefficient decreases, and the wear rate initially decreases and then increases. A lubricating film forms on the worn surface during the process of electrical sliding wear, which improves the wear resistance of the material. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra of the worn surface show that the lubricating film comprises Ti3AlC2, CuO, TiO2 and Al2O3, where the TiO2 and Al2O3 result from decomposition of Ti3AlC2.