Synergistic Effect of Sic Particles and Whiskers on the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Ti(C,N)-Based Cermets

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti(C,N)-based cermets with the addition of the SiC particles (SiC(p)) and SiC whiskers (SiC(w)), were systematically studied in this work. Firstly, the effect of SiC(p) on the cermets was investigated independently to determine the considerable total amounts of additives, and the results showed that 2.0 wt.% SiC(p) would lead to optimal properties of the cermet. Then, the influence of SiC(p) and SiC(w) additions with the variable ratio on the cermets was studied. The results indicated that when 1.5 wt.% SiC(p) and 0.5 wt.% SiC(w) were added; the cermets appeared with the best comprehensive properties, and the transverse rupture strength, hardness, and the fracture toughness of the cermets reached 2520.8 MPa, 88.0 HRA, and 16.56 MPa·m(1/2), respectively. This was due to the synergistic strengthening and toughening effect afforded by the reasonable SiC(p) and SiC(w) addition, from which the smallest grain size, as well as the most uniform, and completed core-rim structure of the cermets, were achieved.