• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1999

The tribological behaviour of monolithic SiC as well as SiC-TiC and SiC-TiC-$TiB_2$ particulate composite materials has been investigated in unlubricated oscillating sliding tests against $Al_2O_3$ at temperature in the range from room temperature up to $600^{\circ}C$. At temperatures below $600^{\circ}C$ the wear rate of the systems with the composite materials was up to 20 times lower than the wear of the $Al_2O_3$/SiC system and was dominated by the oxidation of the titanium phases. At $600^{\circ}C$ the oxidation rate of the TiC and -TEX>$TiB_2$ grains becomes predominant resulting in an enhanced wear rate of the composite rate of the TiC and TiB2 grains becomes predominant resulting in an enhanced wear rate of the composite materials. The coefficient of friction shows similar values for all materials of investigation, increasing from 0.25…0.3 at room temperature to 0.7…0.8 $600^{\circ}C$. The wear of the $Al_2O_3$/SiC system is mainly abrasive at temperatures above room temperature and is characterised by an enhanced wear of the alumina ball at $600^{\circ}C$.