Current-Carrying Friction and Wear Characteristics of Ti₃SiC₂ by Reactive Sintering

The current carrying friction and wear characteristics of Ti₃SiC₂ are investigated at different loads and electric currents by using an HST-100 friction and wear testing machine. Scanning electron microscopy is used for the analysis of sample worn surface configuration and determination of wear mechanism. The results show that without electric current the wear mechanism of Ti₃SiC₂ is mainly mechanical wear, the friction coefficient reduces with increasing load to a minimum value of 0.32 at a load of 120 N. Under the current carrying conditions, the main wear mechanisms of Ti₃SiC₂ are arc erosion and mechanical wear, the wear rate of the Ti₃SiC₂ decreases with increasing load to a lowest value of 2.2×10^-6 mm³/(N·m) at a load of 120 N, which is close to that under the no current carrying conditions. Ti₃SiC₂ shows good current carrying tribological properties under high load and different current.