Understanding Influence of MoSi2 Addition (5 Weight Percent) on Tribological Properties of TiB2

摘要

In densifying engineering ceramics such as TiB2 using nonmetallic sinter additives, it is important to assess the influence of the addition of sinter-aid on the properties of TiB2. The present article reports how a small addition of MoSi2 (5 wt pct) sinter-aid enhances the wear resistance of TiB2 at mode-I fretting contact. This has been confirmed using a series of unlubricated wear tests on hot-pressed ceramics using two different counterbodies, viz. bearing steel and WC-6 wt pct Co cemented carbide, under identical testing conditions. Steady-state coefficient of friction (COF) against steel counterbody has been found to noticeably vary in the range of 0.5 to 1, with variation in load or MoSi2 addition. However, insignificant variation in COF (～0.5) has been recorded during fretting against WC-Co. Furthermore, lower wear rate (～10?6 mm3/Nm) is measured against the cemented carbide, as compared to that against steel (～10?5 mm3/Nm). It has been observed that the material removal of TiB2-based ceramics against steel involves tribochemical wear as well as abrasive wear, and the occurrence of tribochemical wear is explained in terms of various feasible reactions at the tribological interface. Lower contact area, resulting in reduced adhesive wear, along with the absence of additional tribochemical wear, has been attributed to lower wear rate as observed after fretting against the harder (WC-Co) counterbody. A number of possible reactions along with their thermodynamic feasibility are discussed to explain the tribochemical wear at the interface of the mating couple. Irrespective of counterbody or material composition, the measured wear volume exhibits linear dependency on abrasion parameter, confirming the role of material parameters on the contribution of abrasive wear to the material removal/damage of the investigated materials.