Chapter 11 - Friction and Wear Characteristics of Advanced Ceramic Composite Materials

Abstract

Abstract Advanced ceramics both of oxide and non-oxide types have been the subject of many tribological studies in the last few decades. These monolithic ceramics, such as alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride, sialons, silicon carbide, titanium nitride and titanium carbide, etc., are characterized by good resistance to wear/corrosion/erosion, good high-temperature strength and good dimensional stability, which makes them attractive for use in tribological applications involving high temperatures and reactive environments. However, the major obstacles in attempts to the use of monolithic ceramics in actual engineering applications are their low mechanical reliability, due to their inherent brittleness, and difficulties involved in producing finished complex machine parts. To overcome the problem of low reliability, ceramic matrix has been reinforced with whiskers, fibres and refractory particles, leading to the development of ceramic composites with enhanced mechanical strength and fracture toughness. The emphasis of tribological investigations in the past has been mainly on monolithic ceramics. Only a few studies concerning the friction and wear behaviour of ceramic composite materials have been carried out. The aim of this article is to review the results of the friction and wear studies conducted so far on different ceramic composite materials. The test techniques adopted for the tribological evaluation and some tribological applications have also been discussed. Further, some remarks concerning future directions for tribological research on ceramic composite materials have been included.