**Acknowledgements**

materials (**SN** and **SC**), the first measurable effect of erosion was detected after 1800 min of test (**Figure 10**). This fact does not directly confirm that cavitation-caused erosion could be treated as an effect of a specific type of fatigue test. It confirms that different materials have a

**Figure 9.** SEM microstructures of silicon carbide material (**SC**) after 3600 min (left side) and 5400 min (right side)

**Figure 8.** SEM microstructures of silicon carbide material (**SC**) at the first step of degradation, 1800 min (left side), and

After the first period of stability, during the rest of performed cavitation test, the wear rates of **SC** and **SN** materials were practically stable contrary to systematical increment of wear rates

different threshold for degradation to start.

on relatively advanced level of destruction, 3600 min (right side).

for oxide materials (**Figure 6**).

duration of the jet-impact test.

38 Cavitation - Selected Issues

Author would like to thank Dr. Magdalena Ziąbka from the Department of Ceramics and Refractory Materials of AGH University Krakow for very patient and competent assistance during SEM observations and Dr. Robert Jasionowski from Maritime Academy Szczecin for its involvement in cavitation tests.

[12] Garcia-Atance Fatjo G, Hadfield M, Tabeshfar K. Pseudoplastic deformation pits on polished ceramics due to cavitation erosion. Ceramics International. 2011;**37**:1919-1927

Cavitation Wear of Structural Ceramics http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.79510 41

[13] Lua J, Zum Gahr K-H, Schneider J. Microstructural effects on the resistance to cavitation

[14] Pedzich Z. The abrasive wear of alumina matrix particulate composites at different environments of work. In: Zhang D, Pickering K, Gabbitas B, Cao P, Langdon A, Torrens R, et al., editors. Advanced Materials and Processing IV. Vol. 29-30. Switzerland: Trans Tech

[15] Pedzich Z. Fracture of oxide matrix composites with different phase arrangement. In: Dusza J, Danzer R, Morrell R, Quinn GD, editors. Fractography of Advanced Ceramics III: Key Engineering Materials. Vol. 409. Switzerland: Trans Tech Publications; 2009.

[16] Pędzich Z, Jasionowski R, Ziąbka M. Cavitation wear of ceramics—Part I. Mechanisms of cavitation wear of alumina and tetragonal zirconia sintered polycrystals. Composites

[17] Pędzich Z, Jasionowski R, Ziąbka M. Cavitation wear of ceramics—Part II. Mechanisms of cavitation wear of composites with oxide matrices. Composites Theory and Practice.

[18] Pędzich Z, Jasionowski R, Ziąbka M. Cavitation wear of structural oxide ceramics and selected composite materials. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 2014;**34**(14):

[19] Niihara K. A fracture mechanics analysis of indentation. Journal of Materials Science

[20] Kang S-JL. Sintering: Densification, Grain Growth and Microstructure. Amsterdam:

[21] Grabowski G, Pedzich Z. Residual stresses in particulate composites with alumina and zirconia matrices. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 2007;**27**(2, 3):1287-1292

ceramics in water. Wear. 2008;**265**:1680-1686

erosion of ZrO<sup>2</sup>

pp. 244-251

2014;**14**(3):139-144

Letters. 1983;**2**:221-223

Elsevier; 2005

Publications; 2007. pp. 283-286

Theory and Practice. 2013;**13**(4):288-292

3351-3356. DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2014.04.022
