Sliding wear behaviour of Fe/316L/430–Ti(C,N) composites prepared via spark plasma sintering and subsequent heat treatment

A series of novel steel–Ti(C,N) composites was fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and subsequent heat treatment. The hardness, indentation fracture resistance, and wear behaviour of the steel–Ti(C,N) composites were compared with those of the unreinforced samples, and their potentials were assessed by comparison with traditional cermet/hardmetal systems. The results showed that with the addition of 20wt% Ti(C,N), the wear rates of the newly examined composites reduced by a factor of about 2 to 4 and were comparable to those of cermets and hardmetals. The martensitic transformation of the steel matrix and the formation of in situ carbides induced by heat treatment enhanced the wear resistance. Although the presence of excessive in situ carbides improved the hardness, the low indentation fracture resistance (IFR) value resulted in brittle fracture, which in turn resulted in poor wear property. Moreover, the operative wear mechanisms were investigated. This study provides a practical and cost-effective approach to prepare steel–Ti(C,N) composites as potential wear-resistant materials.