New production of TiCxN1−x-based cermets by one step mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction: Powder synthesis and pressureless sintering

TiCxN1−x-based powdered cermets were synthesized by a one step mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction (MSR) process from mixtures of elemental powders, and subsequently sintered by a pressureless method. The composition and microstructure of the ceramic and binder phases before and after the sintering process were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and electron diffraction. The powdered cermets showed excellent binder dispersion and a nanometer character for the ceramic and binder particles. The TiCxN1−x stoichiometry was consistently richer in carbon than expected from the raw powder composition. An important amount of titanium was present in the binder after MSR synthesis, and intermetallic Ti–Ni or Ti–Co phases were obtained in some cases. After sintering, the binder phase was always constituted by intermetallic compounds. The morphology of the ceramic phase in the final bodies was dependent on the C/N ratio of TiCxN1−x and its growth primarily occurred through a coalescence process. The presence of titanium in the binder reduced hard particle solubility in the melted binder and its grain growth.