Effect of ZrO\(_{2}\) Content and Oxide Additives on the Wear Resistance of Pressureless-Sintered Si\(_{3}\)N\(_{4}\) – ZrO\(_{2}\) Composites
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55713/jmmm.v36i3.2768Keywords:
Silicon nitride, Zirconia, Pressureless sintering, Wear resistance, Ceramic compositesAbstract
Silicon nitride (Si3N4) and zirconia (ZrO2) ceramics are well-known for their excellent wear resistance, high hardness, and high mechanical strength. This research focuses on the development and investigation of Si3N4–ZrO2 ceramic composites. Test specimens were fabricated by pressureless sintering at 1550-1650 oC for 2 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere, using SiO2, MgO, and Y2O3 as sintering additives. Density measurements indicated that the weight ratio of SiO2:MgO:Y2O3 at 3:3:5 promoted densification and improved with the addition of ZrO2 (3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia). However, the hardness of Si3N4 containing 5 wt% ZrO2 was 14.63 GPa and showed a decreasing trend as the ZrO2 content increased to 50 wt%. For the composite containing 75 wt% ZrO2, the hardness dropped to 10.18 GPa when sintered at 1600 oC. The flexural strength of sintered Si3N4 reached 924.42 MPa, which was comparable to that of pure ZrO2 at 977.93 MPa. High-stress abrasion resistance testing according to ASTM B611 showed that the sample containing 5 wt% ZrO2 exhibited the lowest volume loss of 18.97 mm³. In comparison, pure Si3N4 showed a volume loss of 25.10 mm³ under the same conditions, indicating that a small addition of 5 wt% ZrO2 can enhance wear resistance. In contrast, the sample with 75 wt% ZrO2 had the highest volume loss of 638.73 mm³, while the 100 wt% ZrO2 sample showed a loss of 543.74 mm³. The results demonstrate that optimum wear resistance is achieved through a balance between zirconia content and liquid-phase stability rather than maximizing zirconia concentration.
Downloads
References
M. Liu, and S. Chen, "Micromechanical characterization of zirconia and silicon nitride ceramics using indentation and scratch methods," Ceramics International, vol. 50, no. 11 part B, pp. 19982‒20010, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.03.124
F. L. Riley, "Silicon nitride and related materials," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 245‒265, 2000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.2000.tb01182.x
Z. Krstic, and V. D. Krstic, "Silicon nitride: the engineering material of the future," Journal of Materials Science, vol. 47, pp. 535‒552, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5942-5
A. Leriche, F. Cambier, and H. Reveron, "Zirconia ceramics, structure and properties," Encyclopedia of materials: technical ceramics and glasses, vol. 2, pp. 93‒104, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818542-1.00101-6
C. Greskovich, S. Prochazka, and J. H. Rosolowski, "Sintering behavior of covalently-bonded materials," Nitrogen Ceramics, pp. 351‒357, 1977. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1298-0_29
K. Jeong, J. Tatami, M. Iijima, and T. Nishimura, "Spark plasma sintering of silicon nitride using nanocomposite particles," Advanced Powder Technology, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 37‒42, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2016.06.027
S. Chockalingam, and D. A. Earl, "Microwave sintering of Si3N4 with LiYO2 and ZrO2 as sintering additives", Materials & Design, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 1559‒1562, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2009.09.053
R. H. J. Hannink, P. M. Kelly, and B. C. Muddle, "Transformation toughening in zirconia-containing ceramics," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 83, no. 3, pp. 461‒487, 2000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.2000.tb01221.x
R. C. Garvie, R. H. Hannink, and R. T. Pascoe, "Ceramic steel?," Nature, vol. 258, pp. 703‒704, 1975. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/258703a0
C. Huang B. Zou, Y. Liu, S. Zhang, C. Huang, and S. Li, "Study on friction characterization and wear-resistance properties of Si3N4 ceramic sliding against different high-temperature alloys," Ceramics International, vol. 42, no. 15, pp. 17210‒17221, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.08.013
K. Traipanya, T. Wasanapiarnpong, and C. Mongkolkachit, "Fabrication and characterizations of high density Si3N4 - ZrO2 ceramics," Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals, vol. 33, no. 3, p. 1621, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55713/jmmm.v33i3.1621
A. G. Evans, and E. A. Charles, "Fracture toughness determinations by indentation," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 59, no. 7‒8, pp. 371‒372, 1976. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1976.tb10991.x
T. Wasanapiarnpong, S. Wada, M. Imai, and T. Yano, "Lower temperature pressureless sintering of Si3N4 ceramics using SiO2-MgO-Y2O3 additives without packing powder," Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, vol. 114, pp. 733‒738, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2109/jcersj.114.733
T. Wasanapiarnpong, S. Wada, M. Imai, and T. Yano, "Effect of post-sintering heat-treatment on thermal and mechanical properties of Si3N4 ceramics sintered with different additives," Journal of the European Ceramic Society, vol. 26, no. 15, pp. 3467‒3475, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2005.10.011
F. F. Lange, "Silicon nitride polyphase systems: fabrication, microstructure, and properties," International Metals Reviews, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1‒20, 1980. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/imtr.1980.25.1.1
F. F. Lange, "Volatilization associated with the sintering of polyphase Si3N4 materials," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 65, pp. 1982. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1982.tb10493.x
P. F. Becher, "Microstructural design of toughened ceramics," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 74, no. 2, pp. 255‒269, 1991. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1991.tb06872.x
J. J. Kruzic, R. M. Cannon, and R. O. Ritchie, "Effects of moisture on grain-boundary strength, fracture, and fatigue properties of alumina", Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 88, no. 8, pp. 2236‒2245, 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00434.x
C. Greskovich, and J. H. Rosolowski, "Sintering of covalent solids," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 59, no. 7‒8, pp. 336‒343, 1976. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1976.tb10979.x
W. E. Lee, and W. M. Rainforth, "Ceramic Microstructures : Property control by processing," Springer Dordrecht, 1994. page 590.
M. H. Bocanegra-Bernal, and B. Matovic, "Dense and near-net-shape fabrication of Si3N4 ceramics," Materials Science and Engineering: A, vol. 500, pp. 130‒149, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2008.09.015
S. Hampshire, "Oxynitride glasses, their properties and crystallisation – a review," Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, vol. 316, no. 1, pp. 64‒73, 2003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3093(02)01938-5
H. J. Kleebe, "Structure and chemistry of interfaces in Si3N4 ceramics studied by transmission electron microscopy," Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, vol. 105, pp. 453‒475, 1997. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2109/jcersj.105.453
S. Kuang, M. Hoffmann, H. L. Lukas, and G. Petzow, "Experimental study and thermodynamic calculations of the MgO-Y2O3-SiO2 system," Key Engineering Materials, vol. 89‒91, pp. 399‒404, 1993. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.89-91.399
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
