Tribological behavior of carbon nanofiber–zirconia composite

The friction and wear behavior of ZrO2 + 1.07 wt.% carbon nanofiber composite and monolithic ZrO2 has been investigated using the ball-on-disk technique with alumina balls as friction partners in an unlubricated condition at room temperature. The coefficient of friction for the composite was found to be significantly lower compared to that for monolithic zirconia with relatively low wear rates for both materials. The main wear mechanism in the nanocomposite was abrasion accompanied with a pull-out of the carbon nanofibers which act in the interface as a sort of lubricating media.