Effect of TaC addition on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Ti(C, N)-based cermets

The microstructures of the prepared Ti(C, N)-based cermets with various TaC additions were studied using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties such as transverse rupture strength (TRS), fracture toughness (K_1C) and hardness (HRA) were also measured. The results showed that the grain size of the cermets decreased with increasing TaC addition, but too high TaC addition resulted in agglomeration of the grains. An increasing TaC addition increased the dissolution of tungsten, titanium, molybdenum and tantalum in the binder phase. The hardness of the cermets decreased slightly with increasing TaC addition. The transverse rupture strength was the highest for the cermets with 5 wt.% TaC addition, which was characterized by fine grains, homogeneous microstructure and the moderate thickness of rim phase in the binder. The fracture toughness of the cermets with TaC addition from 0 to 5 wt.% decreased obviously, which resulting from decreased grain size. The further decreasing of fracture toughness for the cermets with 7 wt.% TaC addition was due to increased porosity and interfacial tensile stress.     

Effect of V content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mo2FeB2 based cermets

Four series of cermets with V content between 0 and 7.5 wt.% in 2.5 wt.% increments were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The transverse rupture strength (TRS), hardness (HRA) and fracture toughness (K_IC) were also measured. It was found that the grain size was affected by the V content. The cermets with 2.5 wt.% V addition exhibited the smallest grain size. An increasing V content decreased the wettability of the binder on the Mo₂FeB₂ hard phase, and accordingly resulted in the increase of porosity and aggregation of ceramic grains. EDS results showed that V addition occurred primarily in the hard phase, with a little amount in the Fe alloy binder. In addition, the content of Mo element in the binder decreased with increasing V content. The cermets with 2.5 wt.% V addition showed the highest TRS, hardness and fracture toughness of 2350 MPa, HRA 90.6 and 15.1 MPa m^1/2, respectively.     

Fabrication,characterization and mechanical properties of SiC-whisker-reinforced Y-TZP composites

The microstructure and mechanical properties of hot-pressed yttria-stablized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP) reinforced with up to 30 vol % SiC whiskers were investigated. The homogeneously dispersed and fully dense SiC whisker/Y-TZP composites were fabricated by wet-mixing the constitutents and uniaxially hot-pressing the resulting powder. The grain size of the matrix depended on the whisker volume fraction and the hot-pressing temperature. The significant increase of fracture toughness of about MPa m^1/2 at 10 Vol % SiC and a small increase in strength were achieved by uniformly dispersing the whiskers in the Y-TZP matrix. Fracture surfaces revealed evidence of toughening by the mechanisms of crack deflection, pullout, and crack bridging by the whiskers and also a phase transformation of ZrO₂. The observed increase in the fracture toughness of Y-TZP due to the addition of SiC whiskers was correlated with existing models of toughening mechanisms. Good agreement was achieved between the theoretical predictions and the experimental toughness values, obtained from the Y-TZP/SiC_w composites.     

Fabrication of multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced carbon fiber/silicon carbide composites by polymer infiltration and pyrolysis process

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-reinforced carbon fiber/silicon carbide (C_f/SiC) composites were prepared using a polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process. The MWNTs used in this study were modified using a chemical treatment. The MWNTs were found to be well dispersed in the matrix after ultrasonic dispersion, and the mechanical properties of the C_f/SiC composite were significantly improved by the addition of MWNTs. The addition of 1.5 wt.% of MWNTs to the C_f/SiC composite led to a 29.7% increase in the flexural strength, and a 27.9% increase in the fracture toughness.     

Spark plasma sintered tantalum carbide: Effect of pressure and nano-boron carbide addition on microstructure and mechanical properties

TaC and TaC-1 wt.% B₄C powders were consolidated using spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1850 °C and varying pressure of 100, 255 and 363 MPa. The effect of pressure on the densification and grain size is evaluated. The role of nano-sized B₄C as sintering aid and grain growth inhibitor is studied by means of XRD, SEM and high resolution TEM. Fully dense TaC samples were produced at a pressure of 255 MPa and higher at 1850 °C. The increasing pressure also resulted in an increase in TaC grain size. Addition of B₄C leads to an increase in the density of 100 MPa sample from 89% to 97%. B₄C nano-powder resists grain growth even at high pressure of 363 MPa. The formation of TaB₂/Carbon at TaC grain boundaries helps in pinning the grain boundary and inhibiting grain growth. The effect of B₄C addition on hardness and elastic modulus measured by nanoindentation and the indentation fracture toughness has been studied. Relative fracture toughness increased by up to 93% on B₄C addition.     

Silicon carbide-toughened zirconia ceramics

Tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (TZP) ceramics containing SiC reinforcement in the form of fine particles (nano-scale), particles (micro-scale), whiskers and platelets were synthesized by hot-pressing. The effects of morphology and grain size of SiC reinforcement on the strength and fracture toughness at room temperature were investigated. The addition of SiC (in whatever form) caused decreases in strength and toughness at room temperature with the exception of whisker-reinforced materials. Toughness fell off with increasing temperature, but nevertheless retained about one-half of the room-temperature value for that particular SiC reinforcement. However, the whisker- and particle-reinforced materials had higher K _lc values at high temperature than fine particle- or platelet-reinforced materials, with values in excess of 7 MPa m^1/2 at 1000 °C. The microstructure was examined for SiC whisker-reinforced/TZP materials by TEM and HREM, to examine the nature of the whisker/zirconia interface.     

Hot-pressed A12O3–SiC(–C) composites with polycarbosilane as the precursor

The processing and mechanical behavior of Al₂O₃–xSiC (–C) (x = 1, 2, 5, 10 wt.%, ASx and ASCx) composites prepared by in situ reaction synthesis SiC from polycarbosilane (PCS) were investigated. The composites were densified by hot pressing. The pyrolysis process of PCS, microstructure, phase structure and mechanical properties of sintered composites were analyzed. Fully dense structure was obtained, and it was found that the fracture toughness and strength were highly improved compared with monolithic Al₂O₃. The fracture toughness reached 5.1 MPa m^1/2 in 1 wt.%SiC composite ASC1. AS1 showed 516 MPa of flexural strength.     

Si_3N_4颗粒和纳米SiC晶须强韧化MoSi_2基复合材料

用真空热压法制备了Si3N4颗粒和纳米SiC晶须强韧化MoSi2基复合材料。采用X射线衍射仪、金相显微镜、扫描电镜分析了该材料的物相、微观组织结构和断口形貌,测算了其致密度、晶粒尺寸、抗弯强度和断裂韧性。结果表明:复合材料致密性好;添加的Si3N4和SiC与基体有着很好的化学相容性;与纯MoSi2相比,复合材料晶粒明显细化,抗弯强度和断裂韧性明显增加。其中MoSi2+20%Si3N4+10%SiC抗弯强度达400MPa,比纯MoSi2提高了58.7%;断裂韧性达6.1MPa.m1/2,比纯MoSi2提高了108.9%。复合材料的强化机制为细晶强化和弥散强化;韧化机制为细晶韧化、裂纹偏转和裂纹微桥接。     

Transparent polycrystalline ruby ceramic by spark plasma sintering

Fine-grained and transparent polycrystalline ruby ceramics (Cr₂O₃-doped Al₂O₃) were successfully prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effect of Cr₂O₃ concentration on the grain size, hardness, fracture toughness and thermal conductivity of ruby ceramics was investigated systematically. For 0.05 wt.% Cr₂O₃, high in-line transmittance of 85% at 2000 nm can be reached, further increase of Cr₂O₃ concentration leads to the decrease in transmittance. High hardness of 23.95-25.05 GPa can be achieved due to the fine grain size in all ruby ceramics. The fracture toughness of 1.9-2.29 MPa m^1/2 indicates that no improvement in fracture toughness over pure Al₂O₃ can be obtained by Cr₂O₃ doping in these submicron grained ruby ceramics. High thermal conductivity of 28-29.8 W/(m K) at room temperature, close to that of single crystal sapphire, can be achieved. The change in grain size for different Cr₂O₃ concentrations is the major reason for the change in mechanical and thermal properties, but not for the change in optical properties.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of liquid phase sintered Mo2FeB2 based cermets

Mo₂FeB₂ based cermets were fabricated by liquid phase sintering at different sintering temperatures and soaking time. Almost full densification was achieved at 1080 °C without soaking time. However, a lower sintering temperature resulted in the aggregation of binder phase and a higher contiguity of hard phase. An increase of sintering temperature or soaking time promoted an in situ growth of elongated Mo₂FeB₂ grains in the intermediate state of sintering. Abnormally large and faceted Mo₂FeB₂ grains appeared at 1320 °C for 20 min. The growth of the abnormally large grains was associated with grain coalescence. The transverse rupture strength (TRS), hardness (HRA) and fracture toughness (K_IC) were also measured, and attempts were made to relate them to the microstructural development.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC<Subscript>P</Subscript>/SiC and SiC<Subscript>W</Subscript>/SiC composites by CVI

37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC and 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC composites were prepared by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process through depositing SiC matrix in the porous particulate and whisker preforms, respectively. The particulate (or whisker) preforms has two types of pores; one is small pores of several micrometers at inter-particulates (or whiskers) and the other one is large pores of hundreds micrometers at inter-agglomerates. The microstructure and mechanical properties of 37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC and 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC composites were studied. 37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC (or 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC) consisted of the particulate (or whisker) reinforced SiC agglomerates, SiC matrix phase located inter-agglomerates and two types of pores located inter-particulates (or whiskers) and inter-agglomerates. The density, fracture toughness evaluated by SENB method, and flexural strength of 37.2 vol.% SiC_P/SiC and 25.0 vol.% SiC_W/SiC composites were 2.94 and 2.88 g/cm³, 6.18 and 8.34 MPa m^1/2, and 373 and 425 MPa, respectively. The main toughening mechanism was crack deflection and bridging.     

Effect of a new additive on mechanical properties of hot-pressed silicon carbide ceramics

The mechanical properties and microstructure of SiC ceramics, hot pressed by simultaneously adding nano-SiC and oxides (MgO+Al₂O₃+Y₂O₃) or nitrate salts (Mg(NO₃)₂+Al(NO₃)₃+Y(NO₃)₃) as additives, were evaluated. The oxide additives system slightly influenced the mechanical properties of the ceramics, while the addition of nano-SiC lead to finer microstructure, and 5 vol.% nano-SiC changed the fracture mode from intergranular type to transgranular type. The ceramics with nitrate salts had fine, equiaxed grains with an average grain size larger than that of the system added oxides, thus inducing lower Viker’s hardness and flexural strength, while the presence of crystalline YAG phase improved the fracture toughness by 54.7%. Also, an observed increase in grain growth—with decreasing weight fraction of liquid and the grounded grain morphology in this system—confirmed a diffusion-controlled growth mechanism. Although the sample with the least amount of additives has the lowest relative density and largest grain size, its flexural strength did not drastically decrease. The influence of nano-SiC on the fracture toughness in the nitrate additive system was negligible.     

Synthesis of TiC-TiB2-Ni cermets by thermal explosion under pressure

TiC/TiB₂-based cermets were fabricated in situ by means of the thermal explosion under pressure technique starting from Ti-B₄C powders with the addition of varying contents of Ni metal binder to achieve near-net-shape bulks. The combustion reaction was ignited in a graphite die heated by current. Full conversion of the reactants was obtained by thermal explosion and the process yielded TiC-TiB₂-Ni materials characterised by a fine microstructure. Appreciable differences in terms of microstructure, hardness and fracture toughness by indentation were observed between core and external surface of the products due to fast cooling caused by heat transfer to the die walls. Cermets with a high content of Ni showing high hardness and fracture toughness were obtained, with values of HV₅ = 2182 and K_Ic = 8.8 MPa m^1/2 for 30 wt.% Ni and of HV₅ = 1684 and K_Ic = 12.7 MPa m^1/2 for 47 wt.% Ni.     

Carbon nanofibers enhance the fracture toughness and fatigue performance of a structural epoxy system

This study investigates the monotonic and dynamic fracture characteristics of a discontinuous fiber reinforced polymer matrix. Specifically, small amounts (0-1 wt.%) of a helical-ribbon carbon nanofiber (CNF) were added to an amine cured epoxy system. The resulting nanocomposites were tested to failure in two modes of testing; Mode I fracture toughness and constant amplitude of stress tension-tension fatigue. Fracture toughness testing revealed that adding 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% CNFs to the epoxy matrix enhanced the resistance to fracture by 66% and 78%, respectively. Fatigue testing at 20 MPa peak stress showed a median increase in fatigue life of 180% and 365% over the control by the addition of 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% CNF, respectively. These results clearly demonstrate the addition of small weight fractions of CNFs to significantly enhance the monotonic fracture behavior and long-term fatigue performance of this polymer. A discussion is presented linking the two behaviors indicating their interdependence and reliance upon the stress intensity factor, K.     

Effect of thermal treatment on the mechanical and toughness properties of extruded SiCw/aluminium 6061 metal matrix composite

Mechanical, instrumented Charpy V-notch (CVN) energy and plane strain fracture toughness properties of SiC whisker reinforced-6061 aluminium metal matrix composite material from an extruded tube have been determined. The effect of thermal treatment and orientation have been studied. The mechanical strength properties are higher than wrought Al 6061 in the T6 condition. CVN energy values, however, were reduced by an order of magnitude.K _lc fracture toughness of the as-received, T6 and degassed + T6 thermal treatments were 50% of the wrought Al 6061 alloy. The effect of orientation showed that the orientation with the least amount of SiC whisker in the crack plane (i.e. greatest mean free path between reinforcements) yields the highest toughness value.     

Quantitative fractography of SiC whisker-Si3N4 matrix composites

An SEM quantitative stereophotogrammetry technique was developed and employed to analyse the fracture surfaces of VLS SiC whisker-Si₃N₄ matrix composites. This technique has quantitatively established that increased surface roughness is associated with increased fracture toughness for these composites. Matrix grain morphology and whisker/matrix interfacial characteristics are contributing factors to composite surface roughness.     

Effect of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) content on thermal and mechanical properties of CNFs/SiC nanocomposites

Carbon nanofibers dispersed β-SiC (CNFs/SiC) nanocomposites were prepared by hot-pressing via a transient eutectic phase route at 1900 °C for 1 h under 20 MPa in Ar. The effects of additional CNFs content between 1 and 10 wt.% were investigated, based on densification, microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties. The CNFs/SiC nanocomposites by the CNFs contents below 5 wt.% exhibited excellent relative densities over 98% with well dispersed CNFs. However, the CNFs/SiC nanocomposites containing the CNFs of 10 wt.% possessed a relative density of 92%, accompanying CNFs agglomerates and many pores located inside the agglomerates. The three point bending strength gradually decreased with the increase of CNFs content, but the indentation fracture toughness increased to 5.7 MPa m^1/2 by the CNFs content of 5 wt.%. The thermal conductivity was enchanced with the increase of CNFs content and represented a maximum value of 80 W/mK at the CNFs content of 5 wt.%.     

Properties of NbC-Co cermets obtained by spark plasma sintering

Sub-micrometer sized NbC-Co powder mixtures with 8, 12, 18 or 24.5 wt.% Co were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) for 2 min at 1200-1280 °C and 30-60 MPa. The optimum densification conditions were determined by analysing the dimensional change of the NbC-12 wt.% Co powder compact. SPS for 2 min at 1280 °C under a pressure of 60 MPa allowed full densification of the NbC-Co cermets with limited NbC grain growth. The microstructure is characterized as a highly interconnected NbC grain network with an inhomogeneously distributed Co binder. The Vickers hardness increased from 11.70 to 15.40 GPa whereas the fracture toughness decreased from 9.0 to 5.5 MPa m^1 / 2 with decreasing Co content from 24.5 to 8 wt.%.     

Improving fracture toughness and hardness of Fe2B in high boron white cast iron by chromium addition

The effect of chromium containing 0%, 0.49%, 1.02%, 2.1%, 3.2% (in wt.%) on the morphology, fracture toughness and micro-hardness property of Fe₂B in high boron white cast iron was investigated. The results indicated that, with an increase of chromium addition, the morphology of Fe₂B becomes larger and changes from the block to rod shape, its micro-hardness increases and the fracture toughness increases first and then decreases. Compared with the fracture toughness (3.8 MPa m^1/2) of Fe₂B without chromium addition, the toughness at 2.1 wt.% chromium addition can be improved by above one time, achieving 7.8 Mpa m^1/2, and the result was also qualitatively testified by the micro-cracks in Fe₂B based on scanning electron microscope micrographs.     

铜含量对燃烧合成TiB2-Cu基金属陶瓷组织和性能的影响

利用自蔓延高温燃烧合成结合准热等静压技术制备了不同Cu含量的TiB2-Cu基金属陶瓷.为了得到金属粘结剂的最佳含量,研究了Cu含量对TiB2-Cu基金属陶瓷热力学、微观组织和性能的影响.在Ti-B-Cu体系的燃烧合成过程中,可能存在TiB2、TiB和TiCu三个相.热力学计算结果表明TiB2是最稳定的相.随着Cu含量的增加,TiB2-Cu基金属陶瓷的绝热温度(Tad)和燃烧温度(Tc)逐渐降低.燃烧温度会影响产物中陶瓷相的形貌,TiB2颗粒的尺寸随金属含量的增加而减小.TiB,-Cu基金属陶瓷的硬度(HRA)和弯曲强度随着Cu含量的增多均呈现先增加后降低的趋势,最大值分别对应20wt.%和40wt.%的Cu含量.随Cu含量的增加,TiB2-Cu基金属陶瓷的孔隙率由于金属Cu良好的流动性而呈下降趋势,断裂韧性则呈逐渐上升的趋势.材料的韧化机制为裂纹尖端塑性钝化机制和裂纹偏转机制.TiB2-Cu基金属陶瓷的最佳金属粘结剂含量位于40wt.%～50wt.%.