Thermal behavior of silicon carbide/carbon tribological tests

Abstract

During friction, the materials in contact undergo a thermal field that can accelerate their deterioration or promote the creation of protective layers. Silicon carbide/carbon dry contact often experiences these phenomena through an oxidation process and a material transfer. In this study, three carbon samples with different impregnation conditions have been considered. Dry friction experiments using a ring-on-ring tribometer were carried out and thermal fields induced were followed by means of Infrared Thermography. Wear volumes and rates were analyzed as well as the third body generated during the tests. Energetic flows were identified and a wear mechanism for the silicon carbide/carbon dry contact is proposed, with respect to the concept of the third body approach.