Structural changes of the friction surface and wear resistance of a ZrO2-Y2O3 ceramic

Quantitative parameters of the surface structures and the wear resistance of a ZrO₂-Y₂O₃ ceramic tested by friction on a steal disk have been determined. It is shown that the friction contact gives rise to quasiperiodic cracks on the friction surface of the ceramic and leads to the formation of a transfer layer. It is established that the wear intensity correlates with the intercrack spacing along the sliding direction and the amount of the steel counterbody elements on the ceramic surface.