Friction properties of bulk SiOC ceramics derived from Ni-containing polysiloxane.

Ni-containing SiOC bulk ceramics have been prepared by spark plasma sintering at 1300 °C from polysiloxane at Ar atmosphere in the present work. The microstructure and properties of SiOC ceramics with different Ni content were studied. The resultant Ni-containing SiOC ceramics consists of in situ formed turbostractic layer carbon, CNTs (C nanotubes) and SiC crystals which dispersed in the SiOC matrix. With increasing content of Ni, the Ni-containing SiOC ceramics displayed less porosity. And the increasing Ni improved the mechanical, thermal and friction properties of SiOC ceramics. Ni-containing SiOC ceramics developed a carbon friction layer, which enhanced abrasion resistance to provide friction materials with stable friction coefficients and low abrasion values. A decrease in wear mass, from 2.06 to 0.18 mg was observed as the Ni content increasing from 0 to 2 wt%. The primary wear mechanisms of SiOC ceramics were recognized as abrasive wear, fatigue wear, and adhesion wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]