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Microtribological Properties of Two-Phase Al2O3 Ceramic Studied by AFM and FFM in Air of Different Relative Humidity

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Abstract

Commercially available, monolithic alumina ceramic was modified using CO2-laser irradiation by surface remelting and adding HfO2 powder. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the microstructure of the modified ceramic consisted of a fine lamellar eutectic Al2O3–HfO2 phase embedded in the Al2O3 matrix. Differences in the microtribological properties of the matrix and the eutectic phase could be measured by friction force microscopy (FFM) during unlubricated sliding contact with a silicon tip at room temperature as a function of relative humidity of the surrounding air and normal load. The dependence of the friction coefficient and the pull-off force on humidity was explained by the formation of lubricating tribochemical surface layers and described by theoretical models.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institute for Materials Research I Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Institute of Materials Science and Engineering II, P.O. Box 3640, Karlsruhe, D-76021, Germany

    C. Ziebert & K. -H. Zum Gahr

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  1. C. Ziebert
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  2. K. -H. Zum Gahr
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Ziebert, C., Gahr, K.H.Z. Microtribological Properties of Two-Phase Al2O3 Ceramic Studied by AFM and FFM in Air of Different Relative Humidity. Tribology Letters 17, 901–909 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-004-8098-5

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