Reciprocative sliding wear of ZrO2–TiCN composites against WC-Co cemented carbide

ZrO2-based composites with 40 vol.% TiC0.5N0.5 addition were processed from both nanocrystalline and micrometer sized TiC0.5N0.5 starting powders by hot pressing. Flat samples were manufactured and finished by wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) in order to investigate their sliding-wear behavior against a WC-Co cemented carbide. Reciprocative sliding experiments were performed under unlubricated conditions using a small-scale pin-on-plate tribometer. The worn surfaces of the investigated composites were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and surface topography. Post-mortem obtained wear volume loss was compared to online measured wear depth. Wear rates were correlated to sliding distance and material parameters and microstructural characteristics. The experimental results revealed a significant dependence of the wear resistance of the ZrO2-based composites on loading conditions and the nature of the secondary phase.