The Wear Characteristics of Zirconia Ball in a Grinding Machine

The Effect of the Type of the Mill, Materials of the Tank and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

The wear characteristics of ZrO₂ balls, which were prepared under several conditions, were investigated.
The wear loss of ZrO₂ balls was attributed to the materials of the tank, such as Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, and urethane. The wear loss of ZrO₂ balls using a mill with an Al₂O₃ lining was larger than that using a mill with ZrO₂ or urethane. This result indicated that the wear particles of the Al₂O₃ lining worn by ZrO₂ balls attacked the surface of the ZrO₂ balls and promoted the wear of the balls, because Al₂O₃ particles are harder than ZrO₂ balls.
Also, the wear loss of the ZrO₂ balls depended mainly on the grain size, fracture toughness and strength of the balls.
The SEM of the worn surface showed some defects and pores, and the wear mode was primarily intergranular.
It was supposed that phase transformation also had an influence on the wear of the balls.