Analysis of wear mechanism of (Ca, Mg)-Sialon ceramics under dry sliding and water lubrication

The tribological properties of (Ca,Mg)-Sialon ceramics in dry air and distilled water are examined. The results demonstrate that water lubrication reduces the friction coefficient of the ceramics but increases the wear volume as compared with dry sliding. Analyses of worn surface and wear debris indicate that the main wear mechanism under dry sliding is brittle fracture and abrasion wear and that under water lubrication is tribochemical wear.