Wear Transition in Alumina and Silicon Carbide Ceramics During Sliding

Sliding experiments have been conducted on alumina and silicon carbide ceramics. Wear and friction data of both materials indicate that wear proceeds in two distinct stages. The wear occurs by a relatively mild plastic-grooving process in the initial stage, but eventually gives way to a severe grain pull-out process after a defined period of sliding test. The datails of the transition mechanism are presented. The effects of grain size and second phase particle on the wear transition are also presented.