Tribological behavior of Ni3Al matrix self-lubricating composites containing WS2, Ag and hBN tested from room temperature to 800 °C

•Tribological properties of NMSC from RT to 800 °C were tested.•Tribological properties of NMSC strongly depended on the addition content of WAh.•WAh and TiC brought about an improvement in tribological properties of NMSC.•NE showed the excellent tribological properties from RT to 800 °C.

Ni3Al matrix self-lubricating composites (NMSC) containing varied amounts of WS2, Ag and hBN (WAh) with weight ratio of 1:1:1 were fabricated by in situ technique using spark plasma sintering. The friction and wear properties of NMSC against the commercial Si3N4 ceramic ball at the load of 10 N and sliding speed of 0.234 m/s for 80 min from room temperature to 800 °C were investigated. The results showed that the tribological properties of NMSC strongly depended on the addition content of WAh. Moreover, NMSC with 15 wt.% WAh and 5 wt.% TiC exhibited the relatively lower friction coefficients and the less wear rates from RT to 800 °C. The excellent tribological behavior of NMSC with 15 wt.% WAh and 5 wt.% TiC was attributed to the synergetic action of composite lubricants of WAh and reinforced phase of TiC.

Graphical abstractVariation of friction coefficients and wear rates of NMSC with temperatures: Ni3Al based alloy (NA), Ni3Al + 10 wt.% WAh (NB), Ni3Al + 15 wt.% WAh (NC) and Ni3Al + 20 wt.% WAh (ND), Ni3Al + 15 wt.% WAh + 5 wt.% TiC (NE).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide