LAUSR

Abstract The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential use of Cu–Ti3AlC2 composites sliding against a Cu–5%Ag alloy as a viable electrical contact couple. Sliding friction and wear tests were conducted in the presence of an electric current using a custom-designed block-on-ring wear testing apparatus. The electrical current density was 0–15 A/cm2 along with an apparent contact pressure of 1.25–7.5 N/cm2 and sliding velocities ranging from 2.5 to 15 m/s. The results indicate that friction coefficient, wear rate, and contact voltage drop measured for the sliding couple increases with an increase in the electrical current density. As the apparent contact pressure increases, the contact voltage drop of Cu–Ti3AlC2 composites increases gradually, while friction coefficient and wear rate first decrease and then increase. With an increase in the sliding velocity, the friction coefficient of the sliding pair decreases and the contact voltage drop increases gradually, while wear rate decreases first, then increases. Adhesive wear and arc erosion wear proposed as the main wear modes. A lubricating film was observed to form on the wear surfaces under each test condition, and that film apparently improves the tribological properties of the sliding couples.