SIC BASED COMPOSITES FOR WEAR APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The present work deals with the samples prepared with composition 0,5,10,35Vol.%BN in SiC with additive Y2O3 by Spark Plasma Sintering parameters to check the change in microstructure and the resulting changes that accompanies with the hardness and fracture toughness. The sintering parameters were changed to achieve a high dense material. The final SPS parameters were maximum temperature 1800℃. In all cases the holding time was kept at 5min at the final temperature. The heating rate was kept at 100℃/min for all samples. Load applied was 55MPa. SEM images reveal the formation of structure for the samples. SEM images of the fractured surfaces shows how the fracture is takes place and hoe the BN content will effect the type of fracture. Hardness and fracture toughness of the samples is 19.20±0.2 GPa max.for the SBN5 and 3.93Mpa-m1/2 max. for SBN35. After that the dry sliding wear test shows that the wear track width is decrease with increase in BN content shows the severity of the wear and also the wear volume is decreases as the BN content is decreased. Fractures surfaces of the composites shows how the BN content will effect the transgranular fracture also there is pull-out of material takes place