Design and optimization of TiB₂‐based ceramic tool materials based on fuzzy theory

Abstract

Based on the material properties and fuzzy theory, a new design method of TiB2‐based composite ceramic tool material was proposed, and the TiB2‐based composite ceramic tool material with excellent friction and wear resistance was designed. Initially, the fuzzy evaluation method was used to establish the matrix of the friction and wear resistance of the material, and the TiB2‐based material component with excellent friction and wear resistance was determined. Ultimately, based on the principle of fuzzy cognitive map, the correlation mapping of “sintering process–microstructure–mechanical properties” was established, and the composition ratio and sintering process were optimized. The results show that the TiB2–TaC–TiC ceramic tool material had excellent friction and wear resistance. When the volume content of TaC was 8 vol.%, the volume content of TiC was 20 vol.%, the heating rate was 100°C/min, the holding time was 8 min, the sintering temperature was 1600°C, and the sintering pressure was 50 MPa, the mechanical properties were hardness 23.5 GPa, bending strength 438 MPa, and fracture toughness 10.26 MPa∙m1/2.