Fracture as a wear mechanism of ceramics based on a partially stabilized zirconia during dry friction against steel

The results of wear of four ceramic materials made of a partially stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP, YPCZ, Ce-TZP and Mg-PSZ) during friction against steel without lubrication are presented. It is shown that wear of ceramics from Y-TZP, Y-PSZ, and Ce-TZP occurs in two stages: first it’s a tear fracture and then it’s a shear fracture. The ceramics based on Mg-PSZ wears out by only the mechanism of shear fracture. Proceeding from the analysis, it was concluded that the wear mechanism of the ceramics under study depends on the grain boundary strength.