Abstract : Sintering additives are commonly used to reduce the conditions required for densification in composite ceramics without compromising their performances simultaneously. Herein, SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics with 10 vol.% SiC whiskers (SiC w) and different Y 2O 3 contents (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 vol.%) were fabricated by hot-pressed sintering at 1800 °C, and the effects of Y 2O 3 content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors were investigated. It was found that the increased Y 2O 3 content can promote the densification of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, as evidenced by compact microstructure and increased relative density. The Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength also increased when Y 2O 3 content increased from 2.5 vol.% to 7.5 vol.%. However, excessive Y 2O 3 (10 vol.%) aggregated around SiC and SiC w weakens its positive effect. Furthermore, the Y 2O 3 additive also reduces the coefficient of friction (COF) of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, the higher the Y 2O 3 content, the lower the COF. The wear resistance of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics is strongly affected by their microstructure and mechanical properties, and as-sintered SiC ceramic with 7.5 vol.% Y 2O 3 (Y075) shows the optimal wear resistance. The relative density, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength of Y075 are 97.0%, 21.6 GPa, 7.7 MPa · m 1/2, and 573.2 MPa, respectively, the specific wear rate of Y075 is 11.8% of that for its competitor with 2.5 vol.% Y 2O 3. Keywords: SiC/SiCw-Y2O3 ceramics; hot-pressed sintering; Y2O3 additive; mechanical properties; tribological behaviors Abstract : Sintering additives are commonly used to reduce the conditions required for densification in composite ceramics without compromising their performances simultaneously. Herein, SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics with 10 vol.% SiC whiskers (SiC w) and different Y 2O 3 contents (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 vol.%) were fabricated by hot-pressed sintering at 1800 °C, and the effects of Y 2O 3 content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors were investigated. It was found that the increased Y 2O 3 content can promote the densification of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, as evidenced by compact microstructure and increased relative density. The Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength also increased when Y 2O 3 content increased from 2.5 vol.% to 7.5 vol.%. However, excessive Y 2O 3 (10 vol.%) aggregated around SiC and SiC w weakens its positive effect. Furthermore, the Y 2O 3 additive also reduces the coefficient of friction (COF) of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, the higher the Y 2O 3 content, the lower the COF. The wear resistance of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics is strongly affected by their microstructure and mechanical properties, and as-sintered SiC ceramic with 7.5 vol.% Y 2O 3 (Y075) shows the optimal wear resistance. The relative density, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength of Y075 are 97.0%, 21.6 GPa, 7.7 MPa · m 1/2, and 573.2 MPa, respectively, the specific wear rate of Y075 is 11.8% of that for its competitor with 2.5 vol.% Y 2O 3. Keywords: SiC/SiCw-Y2O3 ceramics; hot-pressed sintering; Y2O3 additive; mechanical properties; tribological behaviors Abstract : Sintering additives are commonly used to reduce the conditions required for densification in composite ceramics without compromising their performances simultaneously. Herein, SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics with 10 vol.% SiC whiskers (SiC w) and different Y 2O 3 contents (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 vol.%) were fabricated by hot-pressed sintering at 1800 °C, and the effects of Y 2O 3 content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors were investigated. It was found that the increased Y 2O 3 content can promote the densification of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, as evidenced by compact microstructure and increased relative density. The Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength also increased when Y 2O 3 content increased from 2.5 vol.% to 7.5 vol.%. However, excessive Y 2O 3 (10 vol.%) aggregated around SiC and SiC w weakens its positive effect. Furthermore, the Y 2O 3 additive also reduces the coefficient of friction (COF) of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, the higher the Y 2O 3 content, the lower the COF. The wear resistance of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics is strongly affected by their microstructure and mechanical properties, and as-sintered SiC ceramic with 7.5 vol.% Y 2O 3 (Y075) shows the optimal wear resistance. The relative density, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength of Y075 are 97.0%, 21.6 GPa, 7.7 MPa · m 1/2, and 573.2 MPa, respectively, the specific wear rate of Y075 is 11.8% of that for its competitor with 2.5 vol.% Y 2O 3. Keywords: SiC/SiCw-Y2O3 ceramics; hot-pressed sintering; Y2O3 additive; mechanical properties; tribological behaviors Sintering additives are commonly used to reduce the conditions required for densification in composite ceramics without compromising their performances simultaneously. Herein, SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics with 10 vol.% SiC whiskers (SiC w) and different Y 2O 3 contents (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 vol.%) were fabricated by hot-pressed sintering at 1800 °C, and the effects of Y 2O 3 content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors were investigated. It was found that the increased Y 2O 3 content can promote the densification of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, as evidenced by compact microstructure and increased relative density. The Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength also increased when Y 2O 3 content increased from 2.5 vol.% to 7.5 vol.%. However, excessive Y 2O 3 (10 vol.%) aggregated around SiC and SiC w weakens its positive effect. Furthermore, the Y 2O 3 additive also reduces the coefficient of friction (COF) of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics, the higher the Y 2O 3 content, the lower the COF. The wear resistance of SiC/SiC w-Y 2O 3 composite ceramics is strongly affected by their microstructure and mechanical properties, and as-sintered SiC ceramic with 7.5 vol.% Y 2O 3 (Y075) shows the optimal wear resistance. The relative density, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength of Y075 are 97.0%, 21.6 GPa, 7.7 MPa · m 1/2, and 573.2 MPa, respectively, the specific wear rate of Y075 is 11.8% of that for its competitor with 2.5 vol.% Y 2O 3. Keywords: SiC/SiCw-Y2O3 ceramics; hot-pressed sintering; Y2O3 additive; mechanical properties; tribological behaviors Keywords: SiC/SiCw-Y2O3 ceramics; hot-pressed sintering; Y2O3 additive; mechanical properties; tribological behaviors Keywords: