Synthesis and Tribological Characterization of Ti3SiC2/ZnO Composites

Dense Ti3SiC2/ZnO composites were sintered at different temperatures by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of sintering temperature on composition and mechanical properties of Ti3SiC2/ZnO composites were studied. The tribological behaviors of Ti3SiC2/ZnO composites/Inconel 718 alloy tribo-pairs at elevated temperature from 25 °C to 800 °C were discussed. The experimental results showed that the initial decomposition temperature of the Ti3SiC2/ZnO composite was 1150 °C, and Ti3SiC2 decomposed into TiC. When the decomposition temperature was higher than 1150 °C, the compositions of the Ti3SiC2/ZnO composites were Ti3SiC2, ZnO, and TiC. It was found that Ti3SiC2/ZnO composites had better self-lubricating performance than Ti3SiC2 at elevated temperature from 600 °C to 800 °C, which was owing to material transfers of tribo-pairs and sheared oxides generated by tribo-oxidation reactions.