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The friction behavior of Ti3SiC2 sliding against low carbon steel was studied. Tests were carried out on a block-on-disk type friction tester, with the normal pressures from 0.2 MPa to 0.8 MPa and the sliding speed of 20 m/s. The results showed that, irrespective of the normal pressure, the friction coefficient exhibits a transition period in the initial stage of a sliding friction process, in which the friction coefficient increases from an initial value and tends to a saturation value, and then enters into a relatively steady stage. The results also showed that, the friction coefficient of the steady stage decreases gradually from 0.35 to 0.26 with increase in normal pressure from 0.2 MPa to 0.8 MPa. The friction surfaces were observed by using SEM. It was found that all the surfaces were covered by a layer consisting of the frictional products with antifriction effect, and that the denseness and the thickness of the layer were increased with increase in normal pressure applied.

The Ti3SiC2 samples with a second phase TiC, prepared by hot-pressing progress route, were rubbed against low carbon steel disk with a sliding speed of 20 m/s under normal pressure 0.8 Mpa in atmosphere on a block-on-disk type friction tester. The morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and meanwhile the composition was checked by energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show some impurity phases containing Ti, Si and Fe oxides in the samples. The possible tribo-chemical reaction mechanism on surface layer of Ti3SiC2 was suggested.

Characteristics of the frictional layer in high-purity Ti3SiC2 and TiC-contained Ti3SiC2, sliding against low carbon steel, were investigated. The friction and wear tests were made using a block-on-disk type friction tester with sliding speed of 20 m/s and several normal pressures from 0.1 MPa to 0.8 MPa. It was found that all friction surfaces, whether high-purity Ti3SiC2 or TiC-contained Ti3SiC2, were covered by a layer consisting of the oxides of Ti, Si and Fe. The layer was sticky, superimposed layer-by-layer, and the compact was increased with the normal pressure increasing. Because its antifriction effect, the friction coefficient decreases from the maximum 0.35 to 0.27 with increase in the normal pressure from 0.2 MPa to 0.8 MPa for the high-purity Ti3SiC2, and decreases from the maximum 0.55 to 0.37 for the same change of the normal pressure for the TiC-contained Ti3SiC2. The contained TiC grains had effects on the stickiness, liquidness, as well as the morphology of the layer, and induced the friction coefficient to increase in the entire level.