Fundamentals of liquid phase sintering for modern cermets and functionally graded cemented carbonitrides (FGCC)

Metallurgical reactions and microstructure developments during sintering of modern cermets and functionally graded cemented carbonitrides (FGCC) were investigated by modern analytical methods such as mass spectrometer (MS), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dilatometer (DIL), microscopy and analytical electronic microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The complex phase reactions and phase equilibria in the multi-component system Ti/Mo/W/Ta/Nb/C,N-Co/Ni were studied. The melting behavior models in the systems of TiC–WC/MoC–Ni/Co, TiC–TiN–WC–Co and TiCN–TaC–WC–Co have been established. By an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that govern the sintering processing and metallurgical reactions, new cermets and different types of FGCC with desired microstructures and properties were developed.