DEVELOPMENT OF Fe-TiC COMPOSITES

Abstract

Particulate Fe-TiC composites have been developed by the cheaper root of solidification processing where by carbon in molten cast iron reacts with externally added titanium to result in titanium carbide (TiC) particles in-situ the cast composites containing 8 to 15 volume percent of TiC particles have been characterised by measurements of density, macro- and micro-hardness and X-ray diffraction. The distribution of phases and the size of carbide particles have been determine by optical microscopy. Adhesion wear behaviour of the cast composite has been investigated using Timken Wear Testing Machine, against a counterface carborised steel hardened to HRC 60-62. The wear volume in both the composite containing 8 and 15 volume percent of carbide particles, varies linearly with load and sliding distance as anticipated by Archard's law. The wear coefficient and the wear resistance determine from Archard's equation varies a little with load and sliding velocity as it is often encountered in practice. At highest loads TiC particles are observed to come out on the tribosurface which may contribute to abrasive wear. The debonding of these particles under intensive asperity interaction at higher load, have been confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and profilometry of the wear track. The cast composites display a reasonably high wear resistance which is higher for the composite containing larger amount of TiC particles.