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U.S. Department of Energy
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Ceramic tribology: methodology and mechanisms of alumina wear. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6757887
The report describes a systematic study that has been conducted to develop methods for measuring the tribological properties of ceramic materials under concentrated contacts. Step-loading four-ball and ball-on-three-flat wear tests were developed to provide friction and wear characteristics of ceramic/lubricant combinations under various lubrication conditions. These measurement techniques now enable one to study the effect of different materials processing parameters, material microstructures, and different lubricants on the friction and wear performance of ceramics. Water was found to react with alumina in a wearing contact to produce lubricous products. A combination of x-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis techniques were used to investigate the kinetics of alumina-water reactions.
Research Organization:
National Inst. of Standards and Technology (IMSE), Gaithersburg, MD (USA). Ceramics Div.
OSTI ID:
6757887
Report Number(s):
PB-89-148357/XAB; NIST/SP-758
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English