Temperature-induced wear transition in ceramic-metal composites

Wear degradation is a key parameter to evaluate the performance of ceramic-metal composites applied in manufacturing and mining industries. We selected a typical composite (high Mn steel + 50 wt.% TiC) as the model system and studied its wear behavior. The integrity and damage of TiC ceramic particles were analyzed under different temperatures and atmospheres. A critical temperature of ~125 °C at which transitions of wear mechanism occurred was observed for the first time. Below this temperature, hardness dominated the wear behavior as the presence of oxygen induced surface decarburization of ceramic particles with an increased wear rate. The thermodynamics of oxygen-assisted decarburization were investigated using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram) approach, and the resultant hardness reduction of TiC particles was clarified using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. At temperatures above 125 °C, toughness became the governing factor as the ceramic-metal deformation incompatibility induced fracture of ceramic particles. The formation of nano-crystalline oxide tribolayers improved the fracture toughness of ceramic particles and restrained the wear loss, which was elucidated using DFT calculations. Thus, the current work has delineated the competitive micro-mechanisms consisting of surface decarburization and toughening of ceramic particles, which could be used to interpret the wear behavior of ceramic-metal composites.