Effects of surrounding atmosphere on the wear of sintered alumina

摘要: Abstract The dry-sliding wear of polycrystalline sintered alumina was found to increase by nearly one order magnitude when the relative humidity (RH) surrounding air decreased from 50% 10% RH and a further as still down 4% RH. Increasing above had little effect on amount wear. While intergranular fracture is present at all levels, below transgranular became increasingly common. At humidities reduced formation film material with aluminium content, possibly hydrated alumina. Below not formed, resulting in large rate observed these low levels. Another possible reason for reduction facilitation plastic flow humidity. This may have accommodated contact shear stresses so that they were level which initiated. These effects important consequences testing design components antiwear applications.