Tribological Behavior of Silicon Carbide Ceramics - A Review

A comprehensive review on sliding and solid particle erosion wear characteristics of silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics and SiC composites is provided. Sliding or erosion wear behavior of ceramics is dependent on various material characteristics as well as test parameters. Effects of microstructural and mechanical properties of SiC ceramics are particularly focused to understand tribological performance of SiC ceramics. Results obtained between varieties of pairs of SiC ceramics indicate complexity in understanding dominant mechanisms of material removal. Wear mechanisms during sliding are mainly divided in two groups as mechanical and tribochemical. In solid particle erosion conditions, wear mechanisms of SiC ceramics are explained by elastic-plastic deformation controlled micro-fracture on the surface followed by radial-lateral crack propagation beneath the plastic zone. Key words: Silicon carbide, Sliding wear, Erosion wear, Microstructure, Wear mechanisms