Erosive wear of advanced composites based on WC

WC based and yttria stabilized zirconia doped (13 vol%) cermets with different metal binders (Co, Ni or Fe) have been successfully produced and tested for performance in erosive media (silica abrasive particles; particle velocity of 80 ms−1 and impact angles of 30° and 90°). An increase in fracture toughness and erosion resistance was shown to be influenced by tetragonal zirconia transformability. Wear performance of the newly developed cermets is found to be highly dependent on sintering conditions.

► WC based and yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia doped cermets were successfully sintered.
► Phase transformation toughening contributes in increase in the erosion resistance.
► Zirconia transformability influences erosion resistance.
► Wear performance is highly dependent on sintering conditions.