Material removal mode and friction behaviour of RB-SiC ceramics during scratching at elevated temperatures

Thermal assistance is considered a potentially effective approach to improve the machinability of hard and brittle materials. Understanding the material removal and friction behaviour influenced by deliberately introduced heat is crucial to obtain a high-quality machined surface. This paper aims to reveal the material removal and friction behaviours of RB-SiC ceramics scratched by a Vickers indenter at elevated temperatures. The material-removal mode, scratching hardness, critical depth of the ductile–brittle transition, scratching force, and friction are discussed under different penetration depths. The size effect of scratching hardness is used to assess the plastic deformation at elevated temperatures. A modified model is established to predict the critical depth at elevated temperatures by considering the changes in mechanical properties. The results reveal that the material deformation and adhesive behaviour enhanced the ductile-regime material removal and the coefficient of friction at elevated temperatures.