Tribological Properties of Ti2AlNb Matrix Composites Containing Few-Layer Graphene Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

Ti2AlNb alloys with few-layer graphene were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) to enhance the tribological properties (TP) of the composite materials. Microstructure characteristics of the original few-layer graphene (FLG), Ti2AlNb powders, and the sintered composites were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The experimental results indicated that FLGs were homogeneously distributed in the composites. Tribological results indicated that the coefficient of friction (COF) of the composites was reduced as the content of FLG increased. Compared with the pure Ti2AlNb alloy, the average COF of the composite with 1.0 wt.% FLG was decreased by 9.4% and the wear rate was decreased by 36%. Meanwhile, the microstructures of the worn surface showed that TiC particles and friction layers formed by residual FLGs were present on the surface of the composites after tribological test. It is proposed that Ti2AlNb alloys with FLGs presented the enhanced wear resistance.