Fabrication and properties of TiC-based cermet with intra/intergranular microstructure

An intra/intergranular-type TiC-based cermet acquired by spark plasma sintering (SPS) was reported. Composition and microstructure were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results revealed that some added TiN nanoparticles less than 80 nm could be entrapped within TiC grains, others ranged from 50 nm to100 nm distributed at the ceramic grain boundaries and formed an intra/inter-type microstructure finally. Properties testing indicated that the material had higher fracture toughness (KIC) and transverse rupture strength (TRS) at room temperature. The strengthening and toughening mechanisms were also further discussed, respectively.