Effect of reinforcement content on the density, mechanical and tribological properties of Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 hybrid reinforced copper-matrix pantograph slide

As an important part of the pantograph and catenary system, the pantograph slide receives increasing attention from investigators, mainly focused on the interfacial bonding and characteristics, electrical conductivity, and friction and wear characteristics under current-carrying circumstances. In the article, hybrid reinforcements of titanium silicon carbide (Ti3SiC2) and nano-alumina (nano-Al2O3) particles pretreated by electroless plating process were firstly blended with copper powders and then prepressed and vacuum hot pressed to fabricate the hybrid reinforced copper-matrix pantographs (HRCPs). The relative density, mechanical and electrical properties of Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 HRCPs were calculated and measured. The tribological performance of the HRCPs reinforced with 1 wt%similar to 5 wt% of alumina particles and 20 wt%similar to 40 wt% of Ti3SiC2 reinforcements was also analyzed.