Abstract
The tribological property of ceramics is very important for use in seal rings, pump parts, thread guides and mechanical seal, etc. In the present study, which RBSC/graphite composites were manufactured by adding graphite powders with different particle sizes to mixtures of SiC powder, metallic silicon, carbon black and alumina, effects on the tribological property of each RBSC/graphite composite was investigated in accordance with the particle size of the added graphite powder. The water absorption, the bending strength and the resistance for the friction and wear were measured, and the crystalline phase and the microstructure were respectively examined by using XRD and SEM. In case that the particle size of the graphite powder was fine(2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$), the formation of $\beta$-SiC was accelerated, thereby making the increase of the bending strength and the decrease of the water absorption, but no improvement for the tribological properties. Furthermore, in case that the particle size of the graphite powder was some large(88~149${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$), the formation of $\beta$-SiC was not accelerated, to thereby make the decrease of the bending strength and the increase of the water absorption, but the improvement for the tribological property of only the composite having the graphite powder of 20 vol%. In addition, in case that the particle size distribution of the graphite powder was large (under 53 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$), there was no improvement for every properties. However, the composites, which the graphite powder with the particle size of 53~88 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ was added in 10~15 vol%, had the most increased resistance for the friction and wear which show the worn out amount of 0.4~0.6$\times$10-3 $\textrm{cm}^2$, and the value of the bending strength is 380~520 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$.
