Interfacial bonding and wear behavior of macroscopic TiC particulates reinforced iron-based composites fabricated by infiltration casting process

In this study, the interfacial bonding, mechanical properties and wear behavior of TiC particulates reinforced iron-based composites fabricated by infiltration casting process were investigated. TiC serves as a carbon source to formed (Fe,Cr)₇C₃ nearby, which facilitates the formation of metallurgical bonding between TiC and iron matrix. The maximum hardness values of TiC_P zone for different specimens are over 3 times higher than iron matrix. The morphological changes of composites in real-time during three-body wear process were presented “shadow effect” and “peak-valley phenomenon”. The volumetric relative wear resistance of TiC_P/Fe composites with different content of TiC particles increased by 18.2–66.7 % compared with matrix. This work contributes to the potential of millimeter-level TiC as a reinforcement particle of composites in industrial application.