Friction Behaviors and Effects on Current-Carrying Wear Characteristics of Bulk Ti₃AlC₂

Abstract

The friction behaviors of high-purity bulk Ti₃AlC₂ against low-carbon steel with or without current-carrying friction and its effect on wear characteristics were investigated. Experiments are performed on a block-on-disk-type friction tester with sliding speeds from 20 to 60 m/s, pressures from 0.4 to 0.8 MPa, and nominal current densities of 0, 50, and 100 A/cm². The results show that the coefficient of friction increases with increase sliding speed and current density and decreases with increasing normal pressure. The stability of the friction and wear rate of Ti₃AlC₂ was only slightly affected by the changes in sliding speed and normal pressure in the conditions that without current or low current density. However, it causes a significant impact in the current density of 100 A/cm². The stability of friction decreases with increasing sliding speed or decreasing normal pressure, and higher stability corresponds to a lower wear rate during the current-carrying friction process. Standard deviations of kinetic friction coefficients, as a characterization of stability, show a strong linear correlation with the wear rate. However, when sliding speeds are higher than 50 m/s or normal pressures are less than 0.5 MPa, the current-carrying wear rate of Ti₃AlC₂ increases rapidly.

KEY WORDS:

• Ti₃AlC₂
• Electrical Contacts
• Sliding Friction
• Sliding Stability
• Wear

Acknowledgments

Review led by Robert Errichello