Three-body abrasive wear of ceramic materials

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The three-body abrasive wear characteristics of eight different ceramic materials, including alumina, silicon carbide and sialon, have been studied using angular quartz and silicon carbide particles as abrasive media. Cemented carbide and high speed steel were included as reference materials in the tests. The influence of type of abrasive particles on wear rate and dominating wear mechanisms is reported. Relationships between material properties, wear rate and identified wear mechanisms are discussed. Of the materials investigated, an alumina grade, reinforced with 25 vol.% silicon carbide whiskers, shows the highest abrasion resistance. Wear rates as well as wear mechanisms of the materials investigated are found to be strongly dependent on type of abrasive particles. For all materials, the harder silicon carbide abrasive medium results in a higher wear rate than for the quartz abrasive medium. Brittle fracture is the dominating wear mechanism of the materials when tested with quartz particles, while brittle fracture in combination with severe plastic deformation is the dominating wear mechanism of the materials when abraded with silicon carbide particles. Based on the present work, it is proposed that high hardness in combination with high fracture toughness is required for high abrasion resistance of ceramic materials. However, other material parameters such as grain size, porosity, secondary phases, impurities, etc. will also influence the wear characteristics. Further, it is believed that the deterioration characteristics of the abrasive particles are important factors influencing both wear rate and wear mechanisms of the ceramic materials.