Effect of load on the friction and wear behaviour of silicon nitride and silicon nitride titanium carbide ceramic composite

In the present research study, the tribological characterization of pure silicon nitride (Si3N4) and silicon nitride-titanium carbide ceramic-ceramic composites (Si3N4 + 1 wt% TiC and Si3N4 + 2 wt% TiC) was carried out under dry sliding condition. The samples of Silicon nitride and ceramic composite were fabricated through liquid sintering using yttrium oxide, aluminium nitride and optical grade silica as sintering additives. The effect of load on the friction and wear properties of Si3N4 and Si3N4/TiC composite is studied. Friction and wear tests were performed on a pin on disc tribometer at room temperature. It was observed that the friction coefficient and wear rate decreases with increase in load. Further, the Si3N4 + 2 wt% TiC composite possessed better tribological characteristics among the materials tested. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.