Fabrication and wear properties of TiN nanoparticle-dispersed Si3N4 ceramics

Abstract

TiN particle-dispersed Si 3 N 4 ceramics are applied to bearing materials because of their excellent mechanical and thermal properties, chemical stability, etc. In particular, hybrid bearings composed of Si 3 N 4 ceramics and metals are more popular because of low production costs. In such hybrid bearings, control of abrasive wear of metals by hard TiN particles is required. The objective of this study is development of TiN nanoparticle-dispersed Si 3 N 4 ceramics that cause low damage to the mating metals. In order to disperse TiN nanoparticles in Si 3 N 4 ceramics, TiO 2 nanoparticles and Si 3 N 4 particles were mixed by mechanical treatment. TEM observation showed that TiO 2 nanoparticles were directly bonded to submicron Si 3 N 4 particles. Si 3 N 4 ceramics in which TiN nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed were fabricated using the composite particles. The amount of damage caused by the Si 3 N 4 ceramics with TiN nanoparticles, developed in this study, to the mating metals in ball-on-disk test is comparable to damage caused by the Si 3 N 4 ceramics without TiN particles.