CAVITATION EROSION-RESISTANT MATERIAL

PURPOSE:To obtain the above material having excellent resistance to cavitation erosion and appropriate as the members for water turbines, pumps, etc., by forming a layer not contg. the following inorg. material particles, etc., on the upper surface of a compact consisting of a mixed powder of the matrix ceramic, the inorg. material particles, and whisker or fibers. CONSTITUTION:Matrix ceramic powder (e.g., Sialon powder having about 1.0mu mean particle diameter) selected from SiC, Si3N4, ZrO2, Al2O3, and Sialon and >=1 kind (e.g., SiC whisker having 0.5-1.5mu diameter and 50-500mu length) selected from the inorg. material particles, whisker, and fibers are mixed to obtain mixed powder. The mixed powder is then placed in a metallic mold, the surface layer is flattened, the above-mentioned powder is charged in the thickness of 10-40% of the total thickness, and the materials are sintered, for example, at about 1,800 deg.C in gaseous N2. The obtained composite material is joined, as required, to the desired metal base material by an appropriate means such as engagement, adhesion, and shrinkage fitting.