Fabrication of Ti(C,N)‐based cermets by in situ carbothermal reduction of MoO3 and subsequent liquid sintering

Ti(C,N)‐based cermets were fabricated by in situ carbothermal reduction of MoO₃ and subsequent liquid sintering in a single heating process. The densification behavior, phase formation, and microstructure evolution of the cermets were characterized by DSC, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The results showed that near‐fully dense Ti(C,N)‐based cermets with fine carbonitride grains could be obtained by the above‐mentioned method. The carbonitride grains of the cermets still exhibited typical core/rim structures and evenly distributed in the binder phase, but the rim phase was more complete and thinner compared with traditional cermets. In addition, the interfaces between the ceramic phase and binder phase of the cermets were atomically smooth, having the orientation relationship of ()_R//(110)_B with a perfect coherency state. The prepared Ti(C,N)‐based cermets produced with MoO₃ showed excellent comprehensive mechanical properties having a transverse rupture strength of 2461±62 MPa, a Rockwell hardness of 88.0±0.1 HRA, and a fracture toughness of 22.3±0.4 MPa·m^1/2, respectively.