Tribological Properties of TiAl Matrix Self-Lubricating Composites Containing Multilayer Graphene and Ti₃SiC₂ at High Temperatures

Abstract

An investigation is conducted on the unexplored synergistic effects of multilayer graphene (MLG) and Ti₃SiC₂ in self-lubricating composites for use in high-temperature friction and wear applications. The tribological properties of TiAl matrix self-lubricating composites with different solid lubricant additions (Ti₃SiC₂-MLG, MLG) are investigated from room temperature to 800°C using a rotating ball-on-disk configuration. Tribological results suggest the evolution of lubrication properties of MLG and the excellent synergistic lubricating effect of MLG and Ti₃SiC₂ as the testing temperature changes. It can be deduced that MLG has great potential applications as a promising high-temperature solid lubricant within 400°C, and a combination of MLG and Ti₃SiC₂ is an effective way to achieve and maintain desired tribological properties over a wide temperature range.

KEY WORDS:

• Self-Lubricating Composites
• Solid Lubricant Additives
• Solid Lubrication Mechanisms
• Self-Lubricated Wear

FUNDING

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51275370); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2015-yb-008); and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2015-zy-051). The authors also wish to gratefully thank the Material Research and Testing Center of Wuhan University of Technology for their assistance.