Selective Laser Melting of TiC-Fe via Laser Pulse Shaping: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties.

In the present study, TiC-Fe cermets were fabricated through selective laser melting (SLM) for the first time employing pulse wave using a pulse shaping technique and regular laser pulse wave. Two samples were fabricated each with adapting pulse shaping technique and regular laser pulse wave with varied laser peak power and exposure time to obtain an optimized parameter. The pulse shaping technique proves to be an optimal method for fabrication of the TiC-Fe-based cermet. The effect of the laser peak power and pulse shaping on the microstructure development was investigated through scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Two-phased microstructures revealed the distribution of TiC and Fe. A maximum hardness and fracture toughness of 1010 ± 65 MPa and 16.3 ± 1.7 MPa m1/2, respectively, were observed for the pulsed-shaped samples illustrating that pulse shaping can be an effective way to avoid cracking in brittle materials processed by SLM.

Abrasion and Erosion Resistance of Cermets: A Review.

WC-based hardmetals are employed widely as wear-resistant ceramic-metal composites for tools and wear parts. Raw materials supply, environmental concerns and some limitations of hardmetals have directed efforts toward development of alternative wear-resistant composites-cermets. We present a current state of knowledge in the field of ceramic-rich (≥50 vol%) cermets behavior in abrasion and erosion conditions, which are the dominant types of wear in many industrial applications. Distinction is made between two-body and three-body abrasion, solid-particle erosion, and slurry erosion. Cermets, in particular TiC-, Ti(C,N)- and Cr3C2-based composites and hardmetals, are compared for their abrasive and erosive wear performance and mechanism. The review enabled formulation of tribological conditions in which cermets may be comparable or have potential to outperform WC-Co hardmetals. Hardmetals, in general, outperform cermets in abrasion and solid-particle erosion at room and moderate temperatures. However, cermets demonstrate their potential mainly in severe conditions-at elevated temperatures and corrosive (oxidation, electrochemical corrosion) environments.