Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
The use of ceramic materials for high temperature engine applications has prompted interest in the friction and wear characteristics of ceramicceramic pairs in mating contact. This interest has led to both surface and bulk material modifications aimed at improving the lubricity and wear resistance of these materials. This paper will discuss two basic systems developed to allow self-lubrication at high temperatures in ceramic materials through the formation of a lubricious oxide film. Both methods operate under the assumption that the oxide chemistry of the system controls the lubricity and wear properties. Relevant issues for each system will be presented and discussed.