Solid particle erosion-wear behavior of SiC–Si3N4 composite ceramic at elevated temperature

Solid particle erosion wear tests were performed on the prepared SiC–Si3N4 composite ceramic at elevated temperatures using sharp SiC particles with the diameter of 325–830 µm. The study aims to explore the effects of erosion temperature and impingement angle on the high temperature erosion resistance of SiC–Si3N4 composite ceramic. The phase compositions of SiC–Si3N4 composite ceramic prepared by nitriding reaction sintering consisted of α-SiC, β-Si3N4, Si2N2O and Si. The volume erosion rate of SiC–Si3N4 composite ceramic increases firstly and then decreases with the increase of the erosion temperature, while it increases gradually as increasing the impingement angle. The minimum volume erosion rate was obtained at the erosion temperature of 1400 °C and the impingement angle of 30°. The removal of materials at low erosion temperatures is mainly caused by brittle fracture and stripping of aggregates which are due to lose the protection from the matrix. The primary erosion mechanisms of SiC–Si3N4 composite ceramic at high temperatures are ascribed to plastic deformation and oxidation protection.