Wear Mechanisms of TiB 2 and TiB 2 –TiSi 2 at Fretting Contacts with Steel and WC–6 wt% Co

Unlubricated fretting wear tests on TiB 2 and TiB 2 –5 wt% TiSi 2 ceramics against two different mating materials (bearing grade steel and WC–6 wt% Co balls) were performed with a view to understand the counterbody‐dependent difference in friction and wear properties. The fretting experiments were conducted systematically by varying load (2–10 N) at an oscillating frequency of 4 Hz and 100 μm linear stroke, for a duration of 100,000 cycles. Adhesion, abrasion, and three‐body wear have been observed as mechanisms of material damage for both the TiB 2 /steel and TiB 2 /WC–Co tribosystems. The third body is predominantly characterized as tribochemical layer for TiB 2 /steel and loose wear debris particles for TiB 2 /WC–Co tribocouple. An explanation on differences in tribological properties has been provided in reference to the counterbody material as well as microstructure and mechanical properties of flat materials.