Wear Mechanisms of TiB ₂ and TiB ₂ –TiSi ₂ at Fretting Contacts with Steel and WC–6 wt% Co

Unlubricated fretting wear tests on TiB ₂ and TiB ₂ –5 wt% TiSi ₂ ceramics against two different mating materials (bearing grade steel and WC–6 wt% Co balls) were performed with a view to understand the counterbody‐dependent difference in friction and wear properties. The fretting experiments were conducted systematically by varying load (2–10 N) at an oscillating frequency of 4 Hz and 100 μm linear stroke, for a duration of 100,000 cycles. Adhesion, abrasion, and three‐body wear have been observed as mechanisms of material damage for both the TiB ₂ /steel and TiB ₂ /WC–Co tribosystems. The third body is predominantly characterized as tribochemical layer for TiB ₂ /steel and loose wear debris particles for TiB ₂ /WC–Co tribocouple. An explanation on differences in tribological properties has been provided in reference to the counterbody material as well as microstructure and mechanical properties of flat materials.