Low friction ceramic

Low friction ceramic

Isuzu Ceramic Research Institute Co. Ltd has developed a ceramic material with low friction and wear for use in the manufacture of components such as engine parts and bearings in automobiles. The new material is produced by dispersing superfine particles of a ferrous compound with a particle diameter of less than 1µm into the parent ceramic material consisting of silicon nitride. Compared with parts normally made of cast iron, the friction and wear resistances of the new material were found to be reduced by 20 per cent and reduced by 70 per cent compared with those made of silicon nitride.

An article, "Ceramic material with low friction and wear", in New Technology Japan (ISSN 0385-6542, Vol. 25 No. 6, September 1997, pp. 31-32), is available from Global Information on Science and Technology, Tel: + 44 (0) 1664 501 501; Fax: + 44 (0)1664 501555) by quoting 22214P.