Hard Wear-Resistant Ti-Si-C Coatings for Cu-Cr Electrical Contacts

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Tribology
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• Sliding electrical contact materials require enhanced wear resistance and electrical properties.
• Copper-chromium (Cu-Cr) alloys are used in electrical contacts but can suffer from wear and arcing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To deposit hard wear-resistant Ti-Si-C coatings on Cu-Cr materials.
• To improve the performance of Cu-Cr alloys as sliding electrical contact materials.
• To investigate the effect of magnetron power on coating properties.

Main Methods:

• Direct Current (DC) magnetron sputtering technique was employed.
• A ceramic target composed of Ti₃SiC₂ and TiC phases was utilized.
• Coating properties including hardness, wear rate, electrical resistance, and electroerosion resistance were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The Ti-Si-C coatings exhibited high hardness (23-25 GPa) and low wear rates (1-3 × 10^-5 mm³/N/m).
• Low electrical resistance (300 μOhm·cm) and fair electroerosion resistance were observed.
• Optimal properties were achieved for coatings deposited at 450 W for 30 min.

Conclusions:

• Ti-Si-C coatings effectively enhance the wear resistance and electrical performance of Cu-Cr materials.
• The developed coatings offer protection against electrical arcing effects.
• Optimized sputtering parameters are crucial for achieving desired coating characteristics.