Highly conductive wear resistant Cu/[Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2] co-continuous composites via vacuum infiltration process

• Published in: Journal of advanced ceramics 2020-02, Vol.9 (1), p.83
• Main Authors: Yang, Dexuan, Zhou, Yu, Yan, Xingheng, Wang, Honglei, Zhou, Xingui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Electrical conductivity; Graphite; Infiltration (Hydrology); Silicon carbides; Silicon compounds
• ISSN: 2226-4108
• DOI: 10.1007/s40145-019-0350-4

The MAX phase [Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2] 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-[Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2] co-continuous composites have superior performance due to the continuous distribution of 3D network structures. In this paper, the Cu/[Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2](TiC/SiC) co-continuous composites are formed via vacuum infiltration process from Cu and [Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2] porous ceramics. The co-continuous composites have significantly improved the flexural strength and conductivity of [Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2] due to the addition of Cu, with the conductivity up to 5.73 * [10.sup.5] S/m, twice as high as the [Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2] 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 (Ti[C.sub.x], SiC) lower the overall wear rate (1 * [10.sup.-3] [mm.sup.3]/(N * m)). Excellent electrical conductivity and wear resistance make co-continuous composites more advantageous in areas such as rail transit. Keywords: [Ti.sub.3]Si[C.sub.2]; metal-ceramic co-continuous composites; vacuum infiltration; high conductive