SLIDE MEMBER, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, AND MECHANICAL SEAL AND MECHANICAL SEAL RING UTILIZING THE MEMBER

摘要

A slide member comprising a slide plane of silicon carbide base sintered body having a main phase composed mainly of silicon carbide and a subsidiary phase of composition different from that of the main phase containing at least boron, silicon and carbon, wherein the ratio of pores of 6 µm or less circularity and 10 to 60 µm pore diameter to all pores of 10 µm or larger pore diameter on the slide plane is 60% or greater. Accordingly, even when use is continued for a prolonged period of time, good seal performance can be maintained. The subsidiary phase of the silicon carbide base sintered body is preferably particulate crystal phases dotted among multiple main phases. As a result, there can be attained excellence in not only the performance of liquid lubricant retention but also heat conduction and thermal shock resistance.