Mechanical Properties of Nanostructtwed TiC-FeAl Hard Materials

Abstract

For the formation of cemented Tic composite, Co or Ni is added as a binder. However, the high cost and low hardness of Co or Ni as binder and the low corrosion resistance of Tic-Co and Tic-Ni composite have generated interest to find alternative binder materials. It has been reported that FeAl show higher oxidation resistance and hardness as well as low cost compared to Co or Ni. Highly dense nanocrysatlline Tic and Tic-FelAl with a relative desity of up to 100% were obtained within 2 min by PCAS(pulsed current activated sintering) under the condition of 80MPa and up to 1300. The effect of FeAl addition of FeAl on the consolidation, the microstructure and the mechanical properties (hardness and fracture toughness) of TiC were investigated. The fracture toughness of TiC greatly increases without great decrease of the hardness by addition of FeAl. Not only fracture toughness but also hardness values of TiC-10vol.%FeAl were higher than those of TiC-10vol.%Fe, TiC-10vol.%Ni and TiC-10vol.%Co.