Current-Carrying Tribological Properties and Damage Mechanisms of (Graphtie–TiB2)/Cu Composites with Different TiB2 Contents

The influence of the synergistic mechanism between the anti-friction phase and wear-resistant particles on the properties of copper (Cu)-based composites is investigated in this study. The effects of TiB 2 content on the current-carrying tribological properties of (graphite–TiB 2 )/Cu composites are investigated and the damage mechanisms are described. The results reveal that the composites possess the lowest wear rate and the highest current-carrying efficiency when the TiB 2 content is 1.0[Formula: see text]wt.%, with values of 1.44 × 10 −5 mm 3 ⋅ N −1 ⋅ m −1 and 96.55%, respectively. Compared with the composites with a TiB 2 content of 3.0[Formula: see text]wt.%, the wear rate and current-carrying stability for the TiB 2 content of 1.0[Formula: see text]wt.% decrease by 42.6% and 25.8%, respectively, while the current-carrying efficiency increases by 4.5%. The wear mechanism for the composites with a TiB 2 content of 1.0[Formula: see text]wt.% is mainly abrasive wear, accompanied by minor electrical damage. This work provides valuable insights for the design of current-carrying materials in electrical contact applications.