Abstract
Powder mixtures of W–x vol.% ZrC of two different ZrC sizes, where x=10 and 30, were prepared and spark plasma sintered at temperatures in the range of 1700–1900°C for 0–10min. Samples sintered above 1850°C had higher densities than those obtained in previous studies. Analysis of the composite microstructure revealed that it consisted of the (Zr,W)C phase and that submicron ZrC particles were homogeneously dispersed in the W matrix. In addition, there were no noticeable differences between the microstructures of the two powder mixtures. To investigate coarsening, the W–ZrC composite was subjected to post-annealing at 1550°C for 0.5–3.0h in a vacuum furnace. The coalesced ZrC grain size increased with increasing post-annealing time. A large amount of the solid-solution phase (i.e., the (Zr,W)C phase) is thought to be produced. This may enhance the metallurgical bond between the ceramic reinforcement and the metal matrix, which would improve the strength of the particle-reinforced composite. Thus, the (Zr,W)C solid solution possesses superior hardness and strength compared with ZrC.
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