Open AccessComparative evaluation on friction and wear characteristics of SiC, Si 3 N 4 , Al 2 O 3 , and ZrO 2 sliding against PEEK composite for seawater hydraulic axial piston pumps
Author(s) -
Zhang Zhenhua,
Yang Lijie,
Wu Xiangyang,
Li Chunping,
Wang Fei
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2051-3305
DOI - 10.1049/joe.2018.9031
Subject(s) - materials science , abrasive , tribology , seawater , piston (optics) , adhesive wear , peek , composite material , composite number , metallurgy , optics , polymer , oceanography , physics , wavefront , geology
Comparative investigation on friction and wear properties of SiC, Si 3 N 4 , Al 2 O 3 , and ZrO 2 lubricated with seawater was carried out on a ring‐on‐ring contacted tribological test apparatus, and their worn surfaces were observed by an ultra‐depth optical microscope. The results reveal that the friction coefficients of Si 3 N 4 and SiC are obviously lower than those of Al 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 when they slide against the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composite in seawater, and the friction stability of ZrO 2 is so poor that it is not suitable for seawater hydraulic piston pumps. When the contacted load increases from 400 to 1000 N, the wear rate of Al 2 O 3 is still the highest, while the wear rates of SiC and Si 3 N 4 change from positive to negative, which indicates that plastic transfer is occurred under a heavier load. When they slide against the PEEK in seawater, the main tribological mechanism of SiC, Si 3 N 4 , and Al 2 O 3 is slightly abrasive wear, while both abrasive wear and adhesive wear occur for ZrO 2 . Generally, both SiC and Si 3 N 4 have wide prospect applied in seawater hydraulic piston pumps, and particularly Si 3 N 4 exhibits excellent friction and wear properties in seawater.