Tribological properties of Cu-based composites and in situ synthesis of TiN/TiB2

Tribological properties of Cu-based P/M friction composites using h-BN as solid lubricants containing 3.0, 6.0, and 10.0 wt% Ti were investigated. Structures of Cu-based composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and tribological tests were carried out on a block-on-ring tester. XRD results show that TiB2 and TiN were in situ synthesized. The composite containing 3.0% Ti is the low hardness and much higher wear rates for low content of in situ synthesized TiB2 and TiN. The Cu-composite containing 6.0% Ti is appropriate hardness, plasticity, and relatively low wear rates. The Cu-based composite containing 10.0 wt% is the highest hardness and show the deteriorate wear rate for its high brittleness with the increase amounts of in situ synthesized TiN and TiB2.