Analysis on wear properties and impact factors for Si3N4 ceramic mated with chilled cast iron

Abstract

A serial of tests on wear properties for a pair of silicon nitride Si3N4 ceramic mated with chilled cast iron, which will be used as rocker arm pads and camshafts materials in automotive engines, were done under unlubricated condition, and the results of testing were studied. A kind of method called Uniform Distribution was taken in experimental design. Morphology analyses and chemical element examination of worn surfaces revealed that fatigue wear was dominant to Si3N4 ceramic, but adhesive wear was remarkable to chilled cast iron. According to the regression analyses on data obtained during testing, it is known that the impact of load upon the test block on wear rates of Si3N4 ceramic and chilled cast iron is much more remarkable than the effect of sliding speed, and equations concerned with load, sliding speed and wear rate were established.