RESPONSE OF D-GUN SPRAYED ALUMINA-ZIRCONIA CERAMIC COMPOSITE TO PARTICLE EROSION AND SLIDING WEAR

Erosion due to solid particles has a detrimental effect on the performance of components used in many critical applications. The problem becomes more acute at high temperatures. Thermal sprayed ceramic coatings are widely used in such situations wherein the present scenario considers better coatings. The ceramic composite coatings of alumina-zirconia were developed and their response to particle erosion and high temperature sliding wear and are experimentally evaluated. Based on a brittle erosion model, parametric influence on the variation of erosion rate was mathematically modeled adopting regression analysis and its validity is verified through a set of confirmation tests. Alumina zirconia exhibits better performance with higher wear resistance and lesser coefficient of friction, at higher temperature, compared to plain alumina or alumina-titania.