Study on new ceramic coated metal powders: Microstructure and properties

Metal/ceramic composite materials were produced with core/shell structure by traditional pressing and the influence of the compacting parameters on the material properties has been studied. Different quantities of ceramic have been introduced to coat the base stainless steel powder. The use of a new generation of coated powders gives the opportunity to achieve near net shape massive composite exhibiting a composite microstructure, with a uniform dispersion of ceramic hard particles embedded in the metal matrix. Sintering was carried out in vacuum and at temperatures typical of metal sintering process (1250 °C). Microstructures of produced samples have been investigated through the use of LOM and SEM. Hardness as well as tensile and bending tests have been performed.