Effects of fullerene C-60 on the friction and wear characteristics of ceramics in ethanol

For the combinations of a pin of Si3N4 and five kinds of disk, the friction and wear test was carried out in ethanol, and in ethanol containing C-60 p articles (1 wt%). A topographical analysis was also performed on the micro- asperities of the wear surfaces to estimate the behavior of C-60 particles, and the degree of surface damage. As a results, the following facts were f ound. (1) The addition of C-60 particles in ethanol decreased the wear rate s of such ceramic disks as Al2O3, SiC and TiC and of the mating Si3N4 pins. (2) The addition of C-60 particles decreased the mean coefficient of frict ion for SIG, Si3N4, and TiC disks. (3) The wear rates of pin and disk depen ded on the topographies of worn surfaces such as the mean depth of micro-gr ooves, the mean tip radius of micro-asperities and so on. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.