WEAR-RESISTANCE OF STABILIZED ZIRCONIAS

The wear resistance of stabilized zirconias was investigated on both a pin-on-disk machine and a Dangoumeau apparatus under dry and lubricat ed (water) conditions. Under the experimental conditions (80 N load an d 12 mm/s speed) the wear mechanism can be described as initial plasti c deformation and then grain pull-out. The role of the third-body in t he interface of friction has been demonstrated with asymmetric couples where one of the antagonists is made of alumina. If for pure friction it is not easy to differentiate the magnesia partially stabilized zir conias (MgPSZ) front the yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (YTZP) , after shock tests we can conclude that the YTZP have a better wear b ehaviour than the MgPSZ, especially in the case of attrition applicati ons.