Ti3SiC2 -: a self-lubricating ceramic

The dry sliding behavior of T1(3)S1C(2) against itself and diamond was investigated on an oscillating pin on flat tester A large difference in friction coefficient between T1(3)S1C(2)/T1(3)S1C(2) and T1(3)S1C(2)/diamond pairs was observed The friction coefficient of former is 116-143 but that of latter is below 0 1 The low friction coefficient of T1(3)S1C(2) was attributed to the formation of a film on the T1(3)S1C(2) tribosurface which is similar to the behavior of graphite In the other conditions T1(3)S1C(2) was not self lubricated Although T1(3)S1C(2) has a layered structure and is anisotropy in chemical bonding this work demonstrated that it is not intrinsically self lubricated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved