The Wet Erosive Wear of Polycrystalline Alumina with Silicon Carbide Particulate Inclusions

The incorporation of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles into polycrystalline aluminas (Al2O3) can produce significant reductions in wear rate. To ascertain whether this result is peculiar to nanocomposites, or more general to particulate composites, a study of the effects of SiC particle size on the wear rate of such composites has been carried out. Al2O3 matrix composites were hot-pressed with additions of 5 pct wt SiC of particle sizes in the range 0.01-15 microns. These materials have been wear tested under conditions of wet erosion and the results compared to those of pure Al2O3. Wear rate varies with SiC particle size in a continuous way, with the particulates causing refinement of the Al2O3 grain size and reducing grain boundary fracture. (Author)