Effect of sintering atmosphere on microstructure and properties of TiC based cermets

Abstract

The effect of the sintering atmospheres (vacuum, N₂, Ar) on the microstructures and properties of the TiC based cermets was studied using XRD, SEM/BSE and energy dispersive spectrometer. Compared with the alloy sintered in vacuum, the carbon content of the specimen sintered in N₂ and Ar is lower by 0.5%; and the nitrogen content is higher by 0.3% when sintered in nitrogen. The central part of the ring structure may be carbide with either a high W or Ti content. The ring structures are (Ti, W, Ta, Mo, Co, Ni)C solid solutions with different metallic elements and distributions. The composition of the binder phase is (Co, Ni) solid solution with different Ti, W, Ta, Mo, C contents. The structures are uniform for the cermets sintered in vacuum and the properties are the best. When sintered in Ar or N₂, the O₂ and N₂ in the atmosphere take part in the sintering reaction to break the carbon balance in the cermets to form a shell structure and defects, which results in poor density, microhardness (HV) and transverse rupture strength (TRS).

Keywords

TiC based cermets / sintering atmosphere / microstructure / mechanical properties