Preparation and Characterization of NiTi Bonded TiC-based Cermets

TiC/Ti(C,N) based cermets with a Ni binder are used as cutting tools for finishing and semi-finishing operations and are promising materials for metal-forming tools and wear resistant components due to their high hot hardness, chemical stability and good wear resistance. However, the modest toughness limits their application range. A near-atomic NiTi alloy has a higher ductility and strength than the conventionally used Ni binder and might allow to improve the toughness of TiC/Ti(C,N) based cermets. The main goal of this PhD work was to develop NiTi-bonded TiC-based cermets (binder content ≤ 30 vol%) with an improved toughness and a comparable hardness compared to Ni bonded TiC-based cermets.