International Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing

Abstract

Friction and wear resistance were studied on SiC-based novel ceramic composite for applications in advanced automotive braking systems. In the present work, SiC-based ceramic composite was prepared by solid-state reaction synthesis route using a fine powder of precursors. The product was investigated for wear rate under different load conditions in the range from 10N to 70N and speed conditions in the range from 0.13 m/s to 0.52 m/s. The present novel ceramic was subjected to cryogenic treatment to study the effect on microstructure and frictional properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of the untreated sample shown uneven surface and cracks on the surface after wear. SEM images of the cryogenically treated sample revealed no or little cracks on wear surface over the untreated sample. EDS indicated that the samples were homogeneous with the decided ratios of precursors. Wear rate of cryogenically treated ceramic reduced by a factor of 75% as compared to the untreated sample. The cryogenically treated sample shows 14% more hardness compared to the untreated sample. Based on the results of the present study it is evident that cryogenic treatment made significant effects on wear resistance of the material. Further studies are required to onsite use of cryogenically treated samples.