Synergistic Effect of Sic Particles and Whiskers on the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Ti(C,N)-Based...

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti(C,N)-based cermets with the addition of the SiC particles (SiC_p) and SiC whiskers (SiC_w), were systematically studied in this work. Firstly, the effect of SiC_p on the cermets was investigated independently to determine the considerable total amounts of additives, and the results showed that 2.0 wt.% SiC_p would lead to optimal properties of the cermet. Then, the influence of SiC_p and SiC_w additions with the variable ratio on the cermets was studied. The results indicated that when 1.5 wt.% SiC_p and 0.5 wt.% SiC_w were added; the cermets appeared with the best comprehensive properties, and the transverse rupture strength, hardness, and the fracture toughness of the cermets reached 2520.8 MPa, 88.0 HRA, and 16.56 MPa·m^1/2, respectively. This was due to the synergistic strengthening and toughening effect afforded by the reasonable SiC_p and SiC_w addition, from which the smallest grain size, as well as the most uniform, and completed core-rim structure of the cermets, were achieved.