Scanning electron microscopy observation and epsilon-ln V-n curves ana
lysis are employed to investigate erosion behavior of a series of zirc
onia-toughened AT(30) (70wt.%Al2O3-30wt. %TiC) ceramics, and evaluate
their erosion resistance to various erosive situation. The results sho
w that with increase of normal component of impact velocity, the erode
d surfaces exhibit shallow detaching, radial cracking and plastic defo
rmation. Addition of 20-60 wt.% tetragonal zirconia to AT(30) material
s improves erosion resistance dramatically. Compared with high zirconi
a content AT(30)Z ceramics, low zirconia ones have better erosion resi
stance against high velocity erosion, yet weaker resistance against lo
w velocity erosion.