Abrasion and Erosion Resistance of Cermets: A Review

Abstract

WC-based hardmetals are employed widely as wear-resistant ceramic–metal composites for tools and wear parts. Raw materials supply, environmental concerns and some limitations of hardmetals have directed efforts toward development of alternative wear-resistant composites–cermets. We present a current state of knowledge in the field of ceramic-rich (≥50 vol%) cermets behavior in abrasion and erosion conditions, which are the dominant types of wear in many industrial applications. Distinction is made between two-body and three-body abrasion, solid-particle erosion, and slurry erosion. Cermets, in particular TiC-, Ti(C,N)- and Cr3C2-based composites and hardmetals, are compared for their abrasive and erosive wear performance and mechanism. The review enabled formulation of tribological conditions in which cermets may be comparable or have potential to outperform WC-Co hardmetals. Hardmetals, in general, outperform cermets in abrasion and solid-particle erosion at room and moderate temperatures. However, cermets demonstrate their potential mainly in severe conditions—at elevated temperatures and corrosive (oxidation, electrochemical corrosion) environments.

Ceramic–Metal (Cermet) Composites: A Review of Key Properties and Synthesis Methods Focused on Nuclear Waste Immobilization

“…It was found that the 75 vol % WC had superior hardness and elastic modulus. Based on these results, it is plausible to design a cermet waste form with high radioisotope loading. , …”

“…When designing radioactive waste forms, waste loading characteristics are critical to understanding the final waste volume and thus repository size, where higher waste loading reduces the final waste form. In cermet design, it is common to find ceramic-phase loading as high as 80 mass %. , Figiel et al found that the hardness and Young’s modulus of a 90 vol % TiC-(Ni, Mo) cermet exceed that of the 70 and 80 vol % TiC cermet. Dias et al studied WC–Cu cermets with 50 and 75 vol % WC prepared via hot press, as thermal barriers in the first wall of nuclear fusion reactors.…”

“…An important parameter to consider in cermet design is the wettability between the ceramic and metallic phases within the cermet. Many composite systems composed of a metallic binder phase and a ceramic reinforcement phase have been developed where high strength and lightweight are desirable properties. ,− In ex situ processing methods, reinforcement phases, such as carbides or nitrides, are added to a molten metal and cast to the desired geometry. However, poor wettability can cause particle agglomerations, poor interfacial bonding, and reduced mechanical strength.…”

“…WC has been reported in many applications due to its combination of favorable properties, such as hardness and wettability by molten metals. 73 However, use as structural components in elevated temperatures has been avoided due to its poor oxidation resistance and high density. 70 In the WC-Co system, the cobalt completely wets the WC phase (θ = 0°).…”

Advanced ceramics and coatings for erosion‐related applications in mineral and oil and gas production: A technical review

“…Some cermets experience higher erosion rates at impingement at ∼60 • or 75 • , but some of them have high erosion rate at 90 • as many ceramics, whereas some materials have almost similar erosion rates at different impingement angles. 242 According to Hussainova, 243,244 for these heterogeneous materials, the microstructural parameters, for example, different fractions of carbides and metallic binder compositions, as well as grain boundary conditions, have significantly higher importance than measured bulk properties. Addition of some alloys to the binding phase can significantly modify cermets' fracturing features and performance.…”