Synthesizing and optimizing of AgCuS-CNTs composite coatings on AgCu10 substrate prepared by in-situ sulfide method.

AgCuS-CNTs composite coatings were synthesized successfully by the in-situ sulfide method. When the processing temperature was 120 °C, the CNTs network was surrounded by AgCuS and Ag 3 CuS 2 , and the composite coating showed excellent current-carrying tribological properties. The friction coefficient reached 0.15 under an electrical current of 0.1 A and a load of 4.5 N, and the maximum cut-off turns reached 12,000 cycles. [Display omitted] • An in-situ sulfide method was developed for preparing AgCuS-CNTs composite coatings. • A high adhesion strength rating of 0–1 was obtained for the composite coating. • The wear rate could be reduced by 2 orders of magnitude with this composite coating. In order to improve the current-carrying properties of AgCu10 alloy, AgCuS-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite coatings were synthesized on AgCu10 substrates using an in-situ sulfide method. During the process, an entangled CNTs layer was formed firstly on the AgCu10 substrate by dipping the substrate into a CNTs dispersant and dried at room temperature, then an AgCuS-CNTs coating was synthesized in-situ by immersing the substrate with the CNTs layer in a 0.1 M Na 2 S solution. The current-carrying friction performance of the composite coating was significantly improved. Compared with the AgCu10 substrate, the friction coefficient was decreased from ∼0.35 to ∼0.15, and the wear rate was reduced by 2 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the electrical resistivity of the coatings was as low as 2.44 × 10−6 Ω·cm, which was almost the same as the AgCu10 substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]