Wear of multiphase SiC based ceramic composites containing free carbon

Ceramics are of increasing interest for application in many branches of technique. In order to improve the tribological performance of ceramic materials, composites on the basis of silicon carbide with different amounts of titanium carbide, baron carbide, titanium diboride and free carbon in the form of graphite were manufactured by a reaction sintering process. The friction and wear behaviour of these composites was investigated with oscillating sliding motion in unlubricated tests at room temperature on different levels of relative humidity. Additional tests were performed under water lubrication, revealing the superior behaviour of composites for special test conditions. A major influence of the free carbon on friction or wear behaviour was not observed. The tribological behaviour in air as well as under water is mainly dependant on the amount of titanium phases. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.