Cermets: I, Fundamental Concepts Related to Micro-structure and Physical Properties of Cermet Systems

The microstructure of tungsten carbide and titanium carbide base cermets has been evaluated on the basis of wettability of the carbide phase. Incomplete wetting was found to result in a coalescence of the carbide phase leading to an apparent increase in the carbide particle size. Improvement in the wettability of the nickel-titanium carbide systems by the addition of molybdenum was found to promote the dispersion of the carbide phase and to lead to improved hardness and impact resistance.