Reliability of dual compounds “carbide composite+steel” produced by diffusion welding

This paper focuses on the reliability (strength and residual welding stresses) of the dual compound of TiC-based composite+steel and WC-based hardmetal+steel produced by diffusion bonding (welding). Vacuum brazing was used as a reference technology. The influence of some metallurgical factors on the properties and structure of joints was investigated by SEM and EPMA. It was found that the TiC-based cermet and diffusion welding used instead of a WC-based hardmetal and vacuum brazing in the production of the dual compound of carbide composite+steel results in remarkable improvements of joint reliability.