SOME APPLICATIONS OF CATHODOLUMINESCENCE MODE IN A SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE FOR STUDYING THE WEAR BEHAVIOR OF CERAMICS.

This paper describes the main advantage using the cathodoluminescence mode in the scanning electron microscope for the purpose of studying the wear behavior of ceramics. The information obtainable from a cathodoluminescence image/spectrum of these materials in the scanning electron microscope portrays the nature of material behavior under sliding contact; i. e. the presence of defects, impurities, micro-cracks and so on. Wear damages of magnesia, alumina and diamonds are examined so as to illustrate the particular features of deformation and microfracture which would not have been made clear without the use of the cathodoluminescence method.