No abstract

High temperature wear performance of ultrafine and coarse grade Ti(CN)-WC -Ni cermets was investigated by surface profilometry, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to ascertain the contribution of particle size effect. The observed wear depths, produced during wear test, showed direct correlation with the surface roughness, which in turn is controlled by the microstructural features. The cermets with ultrafine Ti(CN) exhibit greater homogeneity along with a considerably higher rim fraction in the typical core-rim microstructure when compared to its coarse counterpart. The improved microstructure accounts for the enhanced tribological properties in the ultrafine cermets.