Wear Resistance of Ti–Al–C MAX
Phases-Based Materials for Pantographs
Inserts of Electric Vehicles
V. Ya. Podhurska, O. P. Ostash, B. D. Vasyliv, T. O. Prikhna, V. B. Sverdun,
M. V. Karpets, and T. B. Serbeniuk
1 Introduction
The pantograph is a device on top of trams, trains, or electric buses that collect electric
current from the overhead wires (catenary). It pushes a contact strip up against the
overhead to draw electricity. Above the pantograph and between the contact wire,
there is a pantograph insert. Nowadays in Ukraine, the pantograph insert is made of
aluminum alloy the lifetime of which is limited to 5,000 km [1, 2].
Composite materials based on titanium MAX phases are very promising [3, 4].
They combine the properties of both metals and ceramics such as high strength,
corrosion and heat resistance, thermal and electrical conductivity, as well as low
coefficients of friction and thermal expansion. The low coefficient of friction of
the materials on the basis of the MAX phases is caused by their layered nanolaminate microstructure [5, 6]. Besides, such materials are easily processed by traditional mechanical methods [5–7]. Therefore, they are increasingly used in an electric
vehicle, in particular for the manufacture of pantograph inserts [8, 9].
In order to increase the reliability and lifetime of electric vehicles, it is necessary
to study and improve the wear and friction of contacting materials since the faults in
the mobile connections account for about 95% of all failures [1]. Sliding electrical
contacts are important moving connections in public vehicles. The materials of the
pantograph inserts have to provide high electrical conductivity, durability, hardness,
and wear resistance. The resistance to the action of the electric arc can serve as an
important characteristic [1] since the decrease in the lifetime of the pantograph inserts
V. Ya. Podhurska (B) · O. P. Ostash · B. D. Vasyliv
Karpenko Physico-Mechanical Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, 5 Naukova str., Lviv 79060,
Ukraine
e-mail: podhurskavika@gmail.com
T. O. Prikhna · V. B. Sverdun · M. V. Karpets · T. B. Serbeniuk
Institute for Superhard Materials of the NAS of Ukraine, 2 Avtozavodska str., Kyiv 04074, Ukraine
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
O. Fesenko and L. Yatsenko (eds.), Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites,
Nanostructure Surfaces, and Their Applications, Springer Proceedings
in Physics 246, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51905-6_42
607
Phases-Based Materials for Pantographs
Inserts of Electric Vehicles
V. Ya. Podhurska, O. P. Ostash, B. D. Vasyliv, T. O. Prikhna, V. B. Sverdun,
M. V. Karpets, and T. B. Serbeniuk
1 Introduction
The pantograph is a device on top of trams, trains, or electric buses that collect electric
current from the overhead wires (catenary). It pushes a contact strip up against the
overhead to draw electricity. Above the pantograph and between the contact wire,
there is a pantograph insert. Nowadays in Ukraine, the pantograph insert is made of
aluminum alloy the lifetime of which is limited to 5,000 km [1, 2].
Composite materials based on titanium MAX phases are very promising [3, 4].
They combine the properties of both metals and ceramics such as high strength,
corrosion and heat resistance, thermal and electrical conductivity, as well as low
coefficients of friction and thermal expansion. The low coefficient of friction of
the materials on the basis of the MAX phases is caused by their layered nanolaminate microstructure [5, 6]. Besides, such materials are easily processed by traditional mechanical methods [5–7]. Therefore, they are increasingly used in an electric
vehicle, in particular for the manufacture of pantograph inserts [8, 9].
In order to increase the reliability and lifetime of electric vehicles, it is necessary
to study and improve the wear and friction of contacting materials since the faults in
the mobile connections account for about 95% of all failures [1]. Sliding electrical
contacts are important moving connections in public vehicles. The materials of the
pantograph inserts have to provide high electrical conductivity, durability, hardness,
and wear resistance. The resistance to the action of the electric arc can serve as an
important characteristic [1] since the decrease in the lifetime of the pantograph inserts
V. Ya. Podhurska (B) · O. P. Ostash · B. D. Vasyliv
Karpenko Physico-Mechanical Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, 5 Naukova str., Lviv 79060,
Ukraine
e-mail: podhurskavika@gmail.com
T. O. Prikhna · V. B. Sverdun · M. V. Karpets · T. B. Serbeniuk
Institute for Superhard Materials of the NAS of Ukraine, 2 Avtozavodska str., Kyiv 04074, Ukraine
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
O. Fesenko and L. Yatsenko (eds.), Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites,
Nanostructure Surfaces, and Their Applications, Springer Proceedings
in Physics 246, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51905-6_42
607