Tribological Characterization of SiC and B4C Manufactured by Plasma Pressure Compaction

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the tribological properties and the wear behavior of silicon carbide and boron carbide ceramics, produced by the plasma pressure compaction sintering process. Reciprocating sliding tests were executed to evaluate the tribological behavior of silicon carbide and boron carbide. Samples of each material with distinct values of surface roughness Ra were tested. Wear mass loss, coefficients of friction and wear mechanism of the boron carbide and silicon carbide were evaluated by means of microscopes and an energy-dispersive spectroscopy probe. The coefficient of friction of the evaluated boron carbide was found to be 0.8, and the surface roughness affects only the starting transient, while for silicon carbide the steady-state value ranges from 0.5 to 0.8 depending on the roughness value Ra

Influence of surface roughness parameters and surface morphology on friction performance of ceramics

“…Rubino et al reported that the B 4 C ceramics with different surface roughness (R a = 0.9, 1.3, 1.9¯m) exhibited different friction coefficients during runin period. 11) The B 4 C ceramics with higher surface roughness (R a ) showed a slightly lower friction coefficient.…”

“…Rubino et al also stated that for SiC ceramics, the SiC ceramics with initial smoother surface (R a = 0.5¯m) had a higher friction coefficient than that of the SiC ceramics with initial rougher surface (R a = 2.2¯m) during run-in period. 11) The friction coefficient is decided by the asperities and protrusion between the two mating surfaces at the beginning of the test. The rougher surface means a lower number of contact points, which needs a smaller force to break these conjunctions.…”

“…The nanorelief structure formed in situ is used to change the surface morphology, and subsequently to change tribological performance of ceramic. In recent Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan 127 [11] 837-842 2019 JCS-Japan years, the research of ceramics on tribology is not only to improve tribological performance, but also to improve the strength and reduce the cost of manufacturing. Unlike laser-fabricated relief structure, nanorelief structure formed in situ would not reduce the strength of ceramics due to the absence of defects caused by laser.…”

“…10) It is widely reported that higher initial surface roughness can cause lower friction coefficient and lower initial surface roughness results in higher coefficient of friction. 11) At present, most of research on the influence of surface roughness parameters on tribological properties is focus on average surface roughness (R a ). In fact, other surface roughness parameters also have effects on tribological properties of ceramics.…”

“…Representative micrographs of the polished surfaces: (a) B, (b) BS and (c) S.Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan 127[11] 837-842 2019…”