Phase evolution, microstructure and properties of Y2O3-doped TiCN-based cermets

Y2O3-doped TiCN-based cermets were prepared by pressureless sintering with powders TiC, TiN, Ni, etc. as main starting materials. The influence of sintering processes and Y2O3 on properties of TiCN-based cermets were investigated. The phase composition of TiCN-based cermets almost had no change with Y2O3 addition. The fullly densified TiCN-based cermets were achieved by P-2 sitering process. The fracture surface showed lots of small dimples caused by hard phase particles pulling-off, and the left hard phase particles were attached to the arborous dendritic matrix. The Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength of TiCN-based cermets increased firstly and then decreased with the increment of Y2O3 content. When Y2O3 contents were both 0.8 wt.%, compared with the P-1 sintered samples, the Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength of the P-2 sintered samples reached 14.84 GPa, 8.66 MPa.m(1/2) and 660.4 MPa, which were increased by 7.9%, 6.1% and 45.8%, respectively.