Tribological Properties of Different Content Ti₃AlC₂/Cu Composites under Different Conditions

With Ti₃AlC₂ powder prepared by pressureless sintering at different temperatures (1 300,1 350,1 400℃) and copper powder as raw materials, Ti₃AlC₂/Cu composites were prepared by powder metallurgy. The tribological properties of composites with different content of Ti₃AlC₂ (mass fraction of 5%, 10%, 15%, 15%) under dry friction condition and in distilled water and seawater environments. The results show that the optimum pressureless sintering temperature of Ti₃AlC₂ powder was 1 350℃, and the mass fraction of Ti₃AlC₂ was 96%. With increasing Ti₃AlC₂ content, the relative density of the composite decreased, and the hardness increased first and then decreased, and reached the highest value (about 120 HV) when the mass fraction of Ti₃AlC₂ was 15%. Under dry friction condition, the friction coefficient and wear rate of the composite decreased significantly with increasing Ti₃AlC₂ content. The wear rates of composites in distilled water and seawater environments were lower than those under dry friction condition; the friction coefficient in distilled water environment was higher than that under dry friction condition, and in seawater environment was lower than that in distilled water environment and slightly higher than that under dry friction condition.