Tribophysical Properties of Polycrystalline Bulk Ti^sub 3^AlC^sub 2

A nearly pure, dense, polycrystalline bulk Ti^sub 3^AlC^sub 2^ sample was prepared by reactively hot pressing the element titanium, aluminum, and graphite powders. The tribophysical properties were investigated by sliding a Ti^sub 3^AlC^sub 2^ block dryly against a low-carbon steel disk. It was found that the friction coefficient is as low as ~0.1, and the wear rate of Ti^sub 3^AlC^sub 2^ is only ~2.5 × 10^sup -6^ mm^sup 3^/N * m for the highest sliding speed of 60 m/s and the largest normal pressure of 0.8 MPa. These unusual properties are attributable to the presence of a compact self-generating film, which covers uniformly over the friction surface of Ti^sub 3^AlC^sub 2^ with a thickness of ~0.5 µm. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]