Sintering of Ti(C,N)-Based Cermets: The Role of Compaction

Different compaction processes were employed in studying the effect of green state on the sintering of TiC-TiN-Ni-Mo₂C and Ti(C_0.3N_0.)-Ni-Mo₂C cermets. Specimens were uniaxially pressed and some being subsequently compacted by cold isostatic pressing. Liquid and solid phase sintering was carried out in nitrogen atmosphere. Green state porosity, pore size distributions, as sintered morphologies, micro-hardness and microstructural development were characterized. Mercury porosimetry measurements indicate that with increasing compacting pressure, large pores are eliminated and the pore size distribution curves shift towards smaller pores. Higher compaction load also leads to decrease in average pore size and a wider pore size distribution. It was found that the Ti(CN)-based cermets are superior than the (TiC-TiN)-based cermet. Cermets with carbowax additives are better sintered than those without the wax. The two-stage consolidation (diepressing + CIP) results in better sintering properties than die-pressing alone.