Orentational effect of graphene on the friction and wear behavior of Si3N4/TiC based composite ceramic tool materials

Tribological performance between 45 hardened steel and Si3N4/TiC based composite ceramic tool materials containing 5 wt% graphene platelets with different orientation angle of graphene have been investigated by pinon-disc tests in dry sliding conditions. The experimental results show that the composite ceramic tool materials with different orientation angle of graphene have different friction coefficients and wear rates. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the developed ceramic tool materials with the 30 degrees orientation angle is 0.46 and 4.29 x 10(-6)mm(3)/N.m, respectively, which is decreased by 31.3% and 63.0% compared with that of the commonly distributed 0 degrees orientation angle. Experimental analysis shows that the improvement can be attributed to the uniform distribution of the adhered tribofilm and the combined effect of graphene pull-out and the contact area between graphene and the friction surface.