Iron/Ceramic Systems for the Development of Iron-Based Composites

摘要

Iron based composites reinforced with hard ceramic particles are a new class ofadvanced materials proposed mainly as wear resistant parts. When corrosion resistance is also desired, metal matrix composites (MMCs) with a stainless steel matrix can be used. It is interesting to use iron and its alloys as the matrix material in composite systems because of their low cost, possibility of heat treatment and technological effectiveness. These composites are still in the development stage and there are few publications concerning iron based composites. The most important of them are high speed steels (HSS) and tool steels reinforced with various carbides (TiC, Cr3C2, WC, VC, NbC, etc.) but also stainless steel matrix composites containing Al2O3 (5-9) or Y2O3 have been reported. However, the only iron based MMCs commercial productions are those reinforced with TiC. The TiC as reinforcement is most commonly used because of its extremely high hardness, low specific gravity, inertness and thermodynamic stability. Compared to their unreinforced alloys, iron or steel matrix composites, like all other MMCs, suffer from the lower fracture properties (ductility and toughness). The greatest advantage of the composite nature of these materials is that their composition can be formulated (e.g. by using different combinations of matrix and reinforcement) for use in many different engineering applications. (Copyright (c) 1997 Helsinki University of Helsinki.)