한국주조공학회

Iron-based metal matrix composites have been recently investigated for the use of inexpensive abrasion resistance material. This paper carried out to investigate the in-situ reaction effects on the microstructural characteristics and the formation mechanism of tungsten carbides in a white cast iron matrix. The specimens of Fe-3.2%C-2.8%Si alloy cast-bonded with tungsten wire were cast in the metal mold and isothermally heat treated at 950℃ up to 48 hours. The typical microstructure of heat treated specimens showed the reaction layer of WC at the interface of tungsten wire and the carbon depletion zone between the WC layer and the matrix. During the formation of WC layer, if the carbon supply is insufficient due to the decarburization of matrix or the isolation of matrix by cast-bonded W wires, the reaction layer develops coarse hexagonal crystalline WC. From the microstructural investigation, it was found that the volume of WC layer and the carbon depletion zone increased linearly with the isothermal heat treating time. This results supported that the formation rate of WC in the white cast iron matrix is controlled by the interfacial reaction with a constant reaction rate.