Preparation and toughening mechanism of Mo2NiB2‐based cermets with SiC whiskers

Abstract Mo 2 NiB 2 is a kind of cermet with excellent mechanical properties, stable chemical properties, and excellent corrosion resistance and is often used in wear‐resistant application fields, such as injection molding machine parts, can making tools and hot copper extruding dies. The brittleness of Mo 2 NiB 2 ‐based cermets limits their wide application. Mo 2 NiB 2 ‐based cermets were prepared by the vacuum sintering method, the effect of SiC whiskers (SiCw) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cermets was investigated, and the toughening mechanism of SiCw on cermets was further discussed. The results indicate that with increasing SiCw content, the indentation fracture toughness ( K IC ), transverse fracture strength (TRS), and Vickers hardness (HV) of the cermets first increase and then decrease. The HV, TRS, and indentation fracture toughness of Mo 2 NiB 2 ‐based cermets with 0.5 wt% SiCw are 1 113 HV, 1 620 MPa, and 27.97 MPa·m 1/2 , respectively, which are 16.8%, 22.7%, and 25% higher than those without SiCw. In the sliding friction tests, Mo 2 NiB 2 ‐based cermets with 0.5 wt% SiCw have the smallest friction coefficient, low wear rate, and high wear resistance. SEM observation and analysis of the crack path and fracture surface showed that the toughening mechanism is whisker bridging, crack deflection, microcrack toughening, and whisker pull‐out. The results indicate that the addition of 0.5 wt% SiCw can effectively improve the mechanical properties of Mo 2 NiB 2 ‐based cermets and further expand the application space of Mo 2 NiB 2 ‐based cermets.