Concepts for the microstructure development of ultrafine Si{sub}3N{sub}4 materials were developed. During unlubricated sliding of Si{sub}3N{sub}4 against Si{sub}3N{sub}4, coefficients of friction 0.1 ...0.15 (fretting wear) could be measuredonβ-Si{sub}3N{sub}4 materials with special microstructures, which are characterised by an isotropic β-Si{sub}3N{sub}4 grains with grain diameters d{sub}50 <0.2μm, maximal grain lengths < 10 μm, and special compositions of glassy phase. The manufacture of the special microstructures is only successful when Si{sub}3N{sub}4 powders produced using the plasma method, or mixtures from heat treated plasma powder and ultrafine commercialα-Si{sub}3N{sub}4 powders are used.
展开▼
