Highly conductive wear resistant Cu/Ti3SiC2(TiC/SiC) co-continuous composites via vacuum infiltration process

Abstract

AbstractThe MAX phase Ti3SiC2 has broad application prospects in the field of rail transit, nuclear protective materials and electrode materials due to its excellent electrical conductivity, self-lubricating properties and wear resistance. Cu-Ti3SiC2 co-continuous composites have superior performance due to the continuous distribution of 3D network structures. In this paper, the Cu/Ti3SiC2(TiC/SiC) co-continuous composites are formed via vacuum infiltration process from Cu and Ti3SiC2 porous ceramics. The co-continuous composites have significantly improved the flexural strength and conductivity of Ti3SiC2 due to the addition of Cu, with the conductivity up to 5.73×105 S/m, twice as high as the Ti3SiC2 porous ceramics and five times higher than graphite. The reaction between ingredients leads to an increase in the friction coefficient, while the hard reaction products (TiCx, SiC) lower the overall wear rate (1×10−3 mm3/(N•m)). Excellent electrical conductivity and wear resistance make co-continuous composites more advantageous in areas such as rail transit.