Influence of WC particles on the microstructural and mechanical properties of 3 mol% Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 matrix composites produced by hot pressing

Yttria stabilized polycrystalline tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP)–tungsten carbide (WC) composites were fabricated by hot pressing. Yttria (Y2O3) stabilizer content was kept at 3 mol% to ensure the phase structure of the Y-TZP composites to be tetragonal. To increase the moderate hardness of the 3 mol% Y2O3 added TZP structure, hard WC particles were added with various proportions up to 40 vol%. The TZP/WC composites were sintered at different sintering temperatures between 1450 and 1550 °C.The mechanical and microstructural properties of the resulting composites as well as the phase compositions were investigated. Reciprocating pin-on-disk tests were carried out to determine the wear behavior of the Y-TZP/WC composites. Using bi-modal WC reinforcement, the performance of the composite against wear was improved. Using dry wear sliding conditions under 55 N normal load and 45 km sliding distance, the worn volume of the 75 vol% nanosized – WC distributed 3Y-TZP/40WC composite was about 0.003 mm3.