Wear and high-temperature stability of TiCN-WC-Co-Cr3C2-HfC-Si3N4 cermets

• Published in: Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society 2023-07, Vol.59 (3), p.779-793
• Main Authors: Natarajan, Gomathi Varshini Kanthi, Ragothuman, Akarshana, Sarfoji, Harishwaran Rengaraj, Shanmugavel, Balasivanandha Prabu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Glass; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Natural Materials
• ISSN: 2510-1560; 2510-1579
• DOI: 10.1007/s41779-023-00874-y

This work reports the wear and high-temperature stability of TiCN-WC-Co-Cr 3 C 2 -HfC-Si 3 N 4 cermets developed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The addition of Si 3 N 4 in the range of 5 wt. % to 15 wt. % in TiCN-WC-Co-Cr 3 C 2 -HfC cermet composition showed hardness of the cermets in the range of 10.2±0.05 to 11.7±0.05 GPa. Among the three cermets developed, 60TiCN-15WC-10Co-5Cr 3 C 2 -5HfC-5Si 3 N 4 possessed a hardness value of 11.7±0.05 GPa and fracture toughness value of 15.1±3.5 MPa√ m . The wear behaviour of the cermets was studied using a pin-on-disc machine with cermets as a pin on EN 31 steel counter disc material with three different sliding velocities in the range of 0.23–0.35 m/s, at a constant normal load of 20 N for a duration of 5 min. 60TiCN-15WC-10Co-5Cr 3 C 2 -5HfC-5Si 3 N 4 cermet showed a high wear resistance at all the three sliding velocities compared to the other cermet composition. High-temperature stability of the cermets was assessed by heating the cermet samples to 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C and holding them for about 4 h followed by cooling within the furnace itself. All the three cermets were stable up to 800 °C. Cermet 60TiCN-15WC-10Co-5Cr 3 C 2 -5HfC-5Si 3 N 4 showed less affinity for oxidation after heating, and hence, it has good thermal stability than other cermet compositions.