Wear mechanisms in powder metallurgy high speed steels matrix composites

Abstract

The development of metal matrix composites has a major interest for automotive and cutting tools industries since they possess better mechanical properties and wear resistance than corresponding base materials. One of the manufacturing methods for these materials includes processing by powder metallurgy techniques. In this case, blending of both, base material and reinforcement powders constitute the most important process in order to achieve a homogeneous distribution of second phase particles. In the present work, composite materials of M3/2 tool steel reinforced with 2.5, 5, and 8 vol% of niobium carbide have been prepared. In order to ensure a homogeneous mix, powders of both materials were mixed by dry high-energy mechanical milling at 200 r.p.m. for 40 h.. After a recovering annealing, two routes for consolidate were followed: (1) die pressing and vacuum sintering, and (2) hot isostatic pressing (HIP). "Pin-on-disc" tests were carried out to evaluate wear behaviour in all the materials. Results show that ceramic particles additions improve wear resistance of base material.