Achieving concurrent strength-ductility combination and robust anti-wear performance in W@WC/Fe core-shell bar-reinforced iron matrix composites

To achieve a combination of high strength, ductility, and wear resistance, novel W@WC/Fe core-shell barreinforced iron matrix composites (CBIMCs) were designed and successfully fabricated through infiltration, insitu solid-phase diffusion, and heat treatment processes. CBIMCs featured a bundle structure of W@WC/Fe core-shell bars within an iron matrix composed of tempered martensite and residual austenite. After quenching at 850 degrees C and tempering at 250 degrees C, CBIMCs attained a yield strength of 2326 +/- 23 MPa and a fracture strain of 23.6 +/- 1.3 %. Furthermore, compared to cast iron, the wear resistance of CBIMCs was enhanced by 234.2 times under a load of 20 N. The "supporting effect" and "shadow effect" of the high-strength W@WC/Fe core-shell bar composite reinforcement, along with the crack restraint from the metal W core and the large-volume matrix, were primarily responsible for the significant improvement in mechanical properties and wear resistance. The present study offers a novel strategy for the architectural design of high-performance steel and iron materials.