Ceramics are of increasing interest for application in many branches of tec
hnique. In order to improve the tribological performance of ceramic materia
ls, composites on the basis of silicon carbide with different amounts of ti
tanium carbide, baron carbide, titanium diboride and free carbon in the for
m of graphite were manufactured by a reaction sintering process.
The friction and wear behaviour of these composites was investigated with o
scillating sliding motion in unlubricated tests at room temperature on diff
erent levels of relative humidity. Additional tests were performed under wa
ter lubrication, revealing the superior behaviour of composites for special
test conditions. A major influence of the free carbon on friction or wear
behaviour was not observed. The tribological behaviour in air as well as un
der water is mainly dependant on the amount of titanium phases. (C) 2001 El
sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.