Wear Behaviors of Unidirectionally Oriented $Si_{3}N_{4w}/Si_{3}N_{4}$ Composites

Wear behaviors of unidirectionally oriented $Si_3N_{4w)/Si_3N_4$ composites, sintered at different temperatures with different alignments of whiskers, have been studied in parallel and perpendicular sliding directions with respect to the orientation of the whiskers by using a ball-on-disk reciprocating sliding apparatus. The results show that wear rate in parallel direction is much greater than that in perpendicular direction. With decreasing alignment of the whiskers, the wear rate decreases in parallel sliding direction and increases in perpendicular direction. With increasing sintering temperature, the wear rate increases obviously in both parallel and perpendicular directions.