• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.118-119
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• 2006

The development of Fe-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) with high content of hard phase has been approached by combining the use of advanced powder metallurgy techniques like high-energy milling (HEM), cold isostatic pressing (CIP) and vacuum sinterings. A 30% vol. of NbC particles was mixed with Fe powder by HEM in a planetary mill during 10h, characteristing the powder by the observation of morphology and microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After of sintering process the variation of density, hardness,carbon content and the microstructural changes observed, permits to find the optimal conditions of processing. Afterwards, a heat treatment study was performed to study the hardenability of the composite.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.272-282
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• 1995

Iron-based metal matrix composites have been recently investigated for the use of inexpensive abrasion resistance material. This paper carried out to investigate the in-situ reaction effects on the microstructural characteristics and the formation mechanism of tungsten carbides in a white cast iron matrix. The specimens of Fe-3.2%C-2.8%Si alloy cast-bonded with tungsten wire were cast in the metal mold and isothermally heat treated at $950^{\circ}C$ up to 48 hours. The typical microstructure of heat treated specimens showed the reaction layer of WC at the interface of tungsten wire and the carbon depletion zone between the WC layer and the matrix. During the formation of WC layer, if the carbon supply is insufficient due to the decarburization of matrix or the isolation of matrix by cast-bonded W wires, the reaction layer develops coarse hexagonal crystalline WC. From the microstructural investigation, it was found that the volume of WC layer and the carbon depletion zone increased linearly with the isothermal heat treating time. This results supported that the formation rate of WC in the white cast iron matrix is controlled by the interfacial reaction with a constant reaction rate.