ABSTRACT
Abrasive wear of ceramics is controlled by several different mechanisms, depending on the relative mechanical properties of the abrasive and the run-in ceramic surface. These mechanisms are inferred from analogy with cemented carbides and cermets, which have been studied more extensively. They include plastic deformation, surface and subsurface brittle cracking, and "pothole" damage at edges, defects, and other points of stress concentration. Experimental results from abrasion tests on a number of different alumina and silicon nitride compositions with 100 J.Lm silicon carbide and quartz abrasives and with 1 J.Lm diamond particles are used to illustrate qualitatively the effects of hardness, fracture toughness, and microstructure of the material being abraded, and the effect of the type of abrasive used. Results are compared with data for cemented carbides and cermets.
