Wear of titanium carbide reinforced metal matrix composites

摘要

The wear resistance of eight titanium carbide (TiC) reinforced metal matrix composites was investigated under different wear conditions. The TiC particles were dispersed in various steel and nickel matrices using a powder metallurgy (P/M) technique. Volume fraction of TiC particles in these composites varied between 0.35 and 0.45. The microstructure of each material was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A high-stress abrasion test (pin abrasion), a low-stress abrasion test (dry-sand/rubber-wheel (DSRW)), an abrasion-impact test (impeller-in-drum) and an erosion test were utilized to understand the wear behavior of these materials under different conditions. While in the low-stress abrasion environment, finer TiC particles (with smaller interparticle spacing) provided better wear resistance, the coarser TiC particles were more effective in protecting the softer matrix from abrasion in the high-stress environment. On the other hand, variation in TiC size did not affect the rate of material loss in the impact-abrasion test. Erosion rate was unchanged with hardness of the composites.