3-BODY ABRASIVE WEAR OF CERAMIC MATERIALS

The three-body abrasive wear characteristics of eight different cerami c materials, including alumina, silicon carbide and sialon, have been studied using angular quartz and silicon carbide particles as abrasive media. Cemented carbide and high speed steel were included as referen ce materials in the tests. The influence of type of abrasive particles on wear rate and dominating wear mechanisms is reported. Relationship s between material properties, wear rate and identified wear mechanism s are discussed. Of the materials investigated, an alumina grade, rein forced with 25 vol.% silicon carbide whiskers, shows the highest abras ion resistance. Wear rates as well as wear mechanisms of the materials investigated are found to be strongly dependent on type of abrasive p articles. For all materials, the harder silicon carbide abrasive mediu m results in a higher wear rate than for the quartz abrasive medium. B rittle fracture is the dominating wear mechanism of the materials when tested with quartz particles, while brittle fracture in combination w ith severe plastic deformation is the dominating wear mechanism of the materials when abraded with silicon carbide particles. Based on the p resent work, it is proposed that high hardness in combination with hig h fracture toughness is required for high abrasion resistance of ceram ic materials. However, other material parameters such as grain size, p orosity, secondary phases, impurities, etc. will also influence the we ar characteristics. Further, it is believed that the deterioration cha racteristics of the abrasive particles are important factors influenci ng both wear rate and wear mechanisms of the ceramic materials.