Unlubricated sliding wear of TiN particle reinforced Si3N4 matrix composites against AISI-52100 steel ball

The effects of TiN addition to Si3N4 on its mechanical and wear properties were investigated. The size and content of TiN particles were found having effects on the strength and toughness Of Si3N4-based composites. The friction and wear behavior of Si3N4 based composites against AISI-52100 steel were investigated in the ball -on- disc mode in a non-lubrication reciprocation motion. It has been found that under the conditions used all the ceramic components exhibited rather low friction and wear coefficients. For monolithic silicon nitride materials, high friction coefficients between 0.6 and 0.7 and wear coefficients between 1.63 x 10(-8) and 1.389 x 10(-6) mm(3)/N.m were measured. The contact load was varied from 100 to 300 N, By adding titanium nitride, the friction coefficients was reduced to a value between 0.4 and 0.5 and wear coefficients between 1.09 x 10(-8) and 0.32 x 10(-6) mm(3)/N.m at room temperature.