Study on Microstructure and Fracture Toughness of TaC Ceramic Coating on HT300

Abstract:

Tantalum carbide (TaC) ceramic coating was produced on grey cast iron by the combined process of casting and heat treatment. The microstructure, micro-hardness, and fracture toughness of the TaC ceramic coating were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and indentation technique. The results show that TaC ceramic coating can be divided into two apparent regions, and the density of products gradually decrease from the surface to the matrix. The main phases of the ceramic coating are only TaC, α-Fe, and Fe₃C. TEM examination revealed a nanostructure ceramic, in which 200~300 nm TaC grains are cemented by iron binder. The nanoindentation hardness of TaC ceramic coating vary in the range of 14~21 GPa. A close examination of the indentation crack paths of TaC samples revealed that the TaC ceramic coating have extensive crack deflection with a great amount of intergranular fracture.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 1120-1121)
• Pages: 740-744
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1120-1121.740
• Online since: July 2015
• Authors: Jie Fang Wang, Tian Tian Shao, Xiao Long Cai, Li Sheng Zhong, Na Na Zhao, Yun Hua Xu*
• Keywords: Fracture Toughness, Indentation Technique, Nanostructure, TaC Ceramic Coating

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