Tribological characterisation of ceramic materials with reciprocating sliding

Application of ceramic materials in tribo systems requires information about their friction and wear behaviour. Tribological characterisation of materials is possible on the base of model tests with ball-on-flat contacts. In order to characterise materials with high wear resistance the use of alumina balls is beneficial compared with the use of steel balls. In reciprocating sliding tests friction and wear can be measured and recorded continuously, the wear behaviour of both bodies in contact can be evaluated by additional profilometry. Since the tribological behavior of materials at room temperature can depend sensitively on the humidity of surrounding air tests were performed in normal air as well as in dry and moist air. The results of tests with 11 different ceramics based on SiC and Si3N4 show strong affects of humidity, being different for both groups of materials.