Abstract
UDC 621.762.04
This study was undertaken in order to obtain a wear-resistant material by spark plasma sintering of a powdered mixture containing various titanium carbide-to-silicon carbide ratios, to be used in sliding friction pairs and face seals of centrifugal pumps. It was found that the silicon carbide content and spark plasma sintering temperature influence the porosity and wear resistance of the composite material. As silicon carbide content grows, porosity increases from 4 to 12%. Temperature above 1200°C affects porosity. The material comprises a matrix of titanium carbide with the grain sizes 1 to 3 µm and silicon carbide with the grain sizes 10 to 60 µm. The pores were smaller than 1 µm and were distributed over grain boundaries. The highest wear resistance, twelve times higher than in hot-pressed silicon carbide, was found in TiC-20% SiC.
Keywords: spark plasma sintering, titanium carbide, silicon carbide, wear resistance, porosity.