ZrO2/SiC/TiO2 composite ceramics were sintered. These specimens were heat treated at 1073 K and 1173 K for 1, 3 and 10 hrs, and evaluated the mechanical properties and the wear characteristics. The bending strengths of ZST specimens were almost the same. ZST specimens were able to crack-healing due to addition of SiC, and the strength was increased by addition of TiO2. The Vickers hardness of the as-received ZST specimen was higher than that of the heat treated specimens. The Vickers hardness of the heat treated specimens decreased with increasing temperature and time. The coefficient of friction of the ZST specimens increased with increasing heat treatment temperature and heat treatment time. The friction coefficients of ZST specimens were inversely related to Vickers hardness. The wear loss increased with the heat treatment time at each heat treatment temperature. The wear loss of all specimens was inversely proportional to the Vickers hardness, but the wear loss was proportional to the friction coefficient.

Keywords: ZrO2/SiC/TiO2 composite ceramics, Heat treatment, Vickers hardness, Friction coefficient, Wear loss