SLIDING MEMBER AND PRODUCTION THEREOF.

摘要

A ceramic sliding member provided with a sliding face having a surface roughness of 1.0 mu m or less in terms of arithmetical mean deviation (Ra). The ceramic includes silicon nitride sinter which contains crystal grains in a linear density of 35 or above per unit length of 30 mu m, has a volumetric grain boundary ratio of 15 vol.% or less, and contains pores with a maximum diameter of 20 mu m or less in a content of 3 % or less. The production process comprises machining a sliding face and then heating the ceramic in an atmosphere of either an inert gas or air to secure the smoothness of the sliding face. The obtained member has an excellent wear resistance and can be used under severe sliding conditions including high-speed sliding. It can inhibit the occurrence of seizure or abnormal wear on the sliding face even when applied to a sliding part of a compressor using chlorine-free fluorocarbon as the refrigerant.