Interfacial bonding and abrasive wear behavior of Iron Matrix composite reinforced by ceramic particles

Using zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) particles and Ni-Ti complex powders as raw materials, high-Cr cast iron reinforced by ZTA particles was prepared by an infiltration casting process. A continuous transition layer formed at the interface between ZTA particles and the Cr15 matrix, which proves that there is strong metallurgical interfacial bonding at the interface. The phases in the Ni-Ti layer of the ZTAP/Fe composite were preserved compared with the microstructure of sintered ZTA ceramic preform. The hardness of the Ni₃Ti, TiO and AlNi₂Ti phases in the interfacial transition layer was measured by the nano-indentation method, which is 12.5 GPa, 16.1 GPa and 9.2 GPa, respectively. The three-body wear resistance of the composite reached 12.6 times that of high-Cr cast iron.