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Microstructure, Mechanical and Tribological Behaviour of TaC-SiC Composites

H. Chen, Z. Wu, W. Hai, W. Hai, W. Hai, L. Liu, L. Liu, L. Liu, F. Qin, X. Sun, T. Luo, W. Sun, W. Sun, W. Sun

Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, Vol. 12, No. 1 (2021), pp. 9-18

DOI: 10.4416/JCST2020-00021

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Abstract

Owing to their high hardness and high-temperature strength, tantalum carbide (TaC) ceramics are being developed for cutting tools or anti-wear materials on moving parts. It is worth examining the mechanical strength and intrinsic abrasion resistance of TaC-based composites to promote their tribological applications. In this study, TaC-silicon carbide (SiC) composites with 5 – 40 vol% SiC were hot-pressed, and their microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties were investigated. The microstructure of the composites was observed with field emission scanning electron spectroscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The composition of worn surfaces was analysed by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectrometry (Raman). The results showed that compared to pure TaC, the relative densities of the composites were enhanced greatly. With the increasing content of SiC, the hardness of the composites increased gradually, while the bending strength first increased then decreased. The TaC and SiC phases coexisted in the composites, and the interfaces were clean, crystallized, without transition layers. Coupled with SiC, the TaC-SiC composites showed good wear resistance, with wear rates of 10-5 mm3/N·m. The main wear mechanisms of the TaC-SiC/SiC pair were abrasion and tribo-chemical reaction.

Keywords

Composites, wear resistance, carbides, wear mechanism

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