Tribological behaviour of yttria-stabilised zirconia under dry sliding conditions when tested against itself and grey automotive cast iron

Abstract

In this study the wear mechanisms of ceramic/cast iron and ceramic/ceramic couples and the relationship of these mechanisms with the tested materials' microstructure were analysed. Wear mechanisms were identified in this particular type of testing and a correlation between material testing parameters and its wear behaviour was established. The interaction between the various wear mechanisms of wear particle generation is also discussed. Transformation toughening controls the major wear mechanisms of 3Y-TZP ceramic material. Models were developed by statistical analysis of the data and the results show close agreement with the experimental results. The wear rate was found by the analysis to be more sensitive to load than to the number of revolutions per minute (rotating speed) or number of cycles (the length of the wear track). These parameters would be expected to have a stronger fundamental influence on wear. In general, ceramic/cast iron couples displayed lower friction than ceramic/ceramic sliding couples under the test conditions.