PRODUCTION AND PROPERTIES OF STEEL-TIC COMPOSITES FOR WEAR APPLICATIONS

Fe-(WTi)C composite granules containing up to 80 wt-% carbide have bee n produced by a selfpropagating high temperature synthesis reaction. T hese can be readily distributed in conventional steel melts. Additions up to 17 wt-% carbide have been made to a 0.4 wt-%C steel which was s ubsequently cast and hot rolled to plate. The microstructures of cast, rolled and heat treated samples display a homogeneous distribution of carbides which do not significantly affect the rolling performance of the steels. The carbides and grain refinement in heat treated samples result in a marked improvement in mechanical properties. The most sig nificant improvement as a fraction of carbide additions is seen in abr asive wear performance.