Friction and Wear Behavior of Cu–Mo Coatings Paired With 7075Al Alloy Under Current-Carrying Environment

Abstract Copper–molybdenum alloys exhibit important potential for applications in conductive and wear-resistant material. In this research, Cu–Mo coatings were fabricated by laser cladding, and the current-carrying tribological properties were investigated against 7075 aluminum alloy under currents ranging from 0 to 20 A. The results indicate that the wear resistance of the coatings is primarily affected by Mo content, and the friction coefficient is greatly influenced by Cu content. Applied current slightly reduces the wear rate but significantly increases the friction coefficient. Under the current test conditions, the friction coefficient of the friction pairs fluctuates within 0.48–0.75. The wear rate of the coatings and aluminum alloy counterparts fluctuates within (3.7–4.5) × 10−5 mm3 N−1 m−1 and (8.2–18.0) × 10−5 mm3 N−1 m−1, respectively. As the electric current increases, the wear mechanism transitions from abrasive wear to slight adhesive wear accompanied by plastic deformation.