Analysis of surface structure of zirconia crystals in case of friction against steel

Abstract

The article considers the formation of the third body during dry friction of the nanostructured zirconia crystals partially stabilized with yttria against steel. The assumption is substantiated that the tribological properties of the studied friction pair are determined by the properties of the films formed on the surface of the crystals. Friction tests under sliding conditions were performed according to the “disk-finger” scheme. The results of electron microscopic examination of the friction surfaces of crystals are presented. The elemental composition was determined, and the phase composition of the transfer films of various sections of the crystal friction surface was calculated. At high magnifications, it was found that the friction surface of samples with 2-4 mol.% of Y2O3 has the sufficiently homogeneous structure of the films with traces of boundaries of smaller particles of the transferred material. Destruction of the friction surface of a sample with a Y2O3 content of 8 mol.% occurs at a deeper level and affects not only the layer of secondary structures, but also the underlying layers of the base material.