Reaction synthesis of in situ vanadium carbide particulates-reinforced iron matrix composites by spark plasma sintering

Excerpt

In recent years, ceramic particulates have been widely used as reinforcements in metal matrix composites to improve the mechanical properties. Transition metal carbides have received much attention due to their various excellent properties, such as high melting points, high hardness, high-temperature strength, high thermal conductivity, and high chemical stability [1‐4]. Among these carbides, vanadium carbide is important for industrial applications owing to its unique properties. Additionally, vanadium carbide is expected to be able to better incorporate into the iron matrix because of its better wettability by iron, as indicated by the smaller contact angle θ of 13° between vanadium carbide and iron [5]. Therefore, the vanadium carbide particulates-reinforced Fe matrix composites have received considerable attention owing to their potential use in cutting, machining, and wear resistance applications. …