DEPENDENCE OF SiAlON-TiN COMPOSITE PROPERTIES ON TiN REINFORCEMENT PARTICLE SIZE

Abstract

In this study, the effect of TiN particle size (nano and micrometer level), being an effective parameter on microstructuralevolution, mechanical and physical properties of SiAlON-TiN composites, was investigated. SEM and the XRDcharacterization methods were used to observe the effects of TiN particle size on the phase and microstructural evolution.Indentation fracture toughness and Vickers hardness of the manufactured specimens were measured in order to evaluate themechanical behavior. Archimedes principle was used to determine the bulk density and porosity. Correlation between TiNparticle size and hardness, fracture toughness, microstructure, phase evolution was discussed. It was observed that decrease inparticle size led to little improvement in fracture toughness and hardness.