Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Cermets Containing Hard Phases from the Ti-C-B-N System

In this work, several cermet compositions containing TiC, TiN, TiB2 and WC as hard phases and Ni, Co, Ti and W as metal binders have been studied. The densification of the samples has been carried out either by pressureless sintering or by gas pressure sintering or by hot pressing in vacuum (for compositions that show low densification by pressureless sintering). Properties such as hardness , toughness and bending strength were evaluated. The analysis of microstructure and densification behaviour permitted the identification of the role of the single constituents and the possible reactions determining the final phase distribution in the materials.