The generation and morphology of single-crystal silicon carbide wear particles under adhesive conditions

Abstract

Sliding friction experiments were conducted in vacuum with a {0001} SiC surface in contact with iron-based binary alloys. Multiangular and spherical wear particles of silicon carbide were observed as a result of multipass sliding. The multiangular particles were produced by primary and secondary cracking of the {0001}, {101̄0} and {112̄0} cleavage planes under the hertzian stress field or local inelastic deformation zone. The spherical particles may be produced by two mechanisms: (1) a penny-shaped fracture along the circular stress trajectories under the local inelastic deformation zone; (2) attrition of wear particles.