Influence of applied pressure during field-assisted sintering of Ti(C,N)-WC-FeAl based nanocomposite

Abstract

Ti(C,N)-WC-FeAl based nanocomposites are processed by field-assisted sintering at 1500 °C. The phase and microstructural evolution during the process under the influence of different applied pressures of 30, 50 and 100 MPa are studied using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Lattice parameters of (Ti,W)(C,N) solid solution and binder phases after sintering are found to vary with applied pressure. The nanocomposite grains are observed to possess a core-rim microstructure. Microstructural variations in terms of type, size and fraction of "core-rim" structure as a function of applied pressure are investigated. The hardness and indentation fracture toughness values are in the range of 17.6-18.4 GPa and 5.9-6.8 MPam, respectively. These values are comparable with those reported for Ti(C,N)-based composites with metal binder.