Wear Resistance of TiC Ceramic Particulate-reinforced Metal Matrix Cermets

To characterize wear behaviors of TiC ceramic particulate-reinforced metal matrix cermets in abominable condition, wear-resistance test was practiced in grain abrasive wear with the TiC-xNi cermets in-situ fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis method combined with pseudo hot iso-static pressing. Grain abrasion test was conducted with the MLS-225 type tester. Wear resistance was evaluated as weight loss obtained after each period of 10 minutes. Wear resistance of the cermets increased with the increase of TiC content in the composites. SEM was employed to analyze the wear process and wear mechanism. SEM examination of the wear tracks in the worn surface suggests that abrasive wear mechanisms of different binder content cermets are similar. The worn surface is characterized by long and deep parallel grooves. The fracturing of bigger carbide grains and carbide framework by a fatigue process under repeated abrasion is followed by weight loss of the material.