scieee Open visual document viewer

Spark plasma sintering influence on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti:Ta/carbonitride ceramic matrix composites

Córdoba Gallego, José Manuel

Abstract

A mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction was carried out to synthesize a Ti0.9Ta0.1C0.5N0.5/Co powdered cermets, and then they were sintered by spark plasma sintering. Microstructural parameters effects studied by image analysis, and chemical composition (studied by Rietveld analysis) on the microhardness, hardening rate, fracture toughness, transverse rupture strength, and Young’s modulus were related to the sintering conditions. The optimization of the sintering conditions (1150 ◦C, 30 MPa, and 8 min’ dwell time) drove to a homogeneous microstructure and outstanding mechanical properties. Also, the tantalum was suggested to influence the interfacial energies of the system, yielding a stronger hard phase skeleton.

Full text

Spa k plasma sin e ing in luence on mic os uc u e and mechanical p ope ies o Ti:Ta/ca boni ide ce amic ma ix composi es Jos´ e Manuel C´ o doba Gallego Depa amen o de Química Ino g´ anica, Facul ad de Química, Uni e sidad de Se illa (US), C/T amon ana s/n, 41012 Se illa, Spain ARTICLE INFO Keywo ds: Ce amic ma ix composi e Spa k plasma sin e ing Mic os uc u e Mechanical p ope ies ABSTRACT A mechanically induced sel -sus aining eac ion was ca ied ou o syn hesize a Ti 0.9 Ta 0.1 C 0.5 N 0.5 /Co powde ed ce me s, and hen hey we e sin e ed by spa k plasma sin e ing. Mic os uc u al pa ame e s e ec s s udied by image analysis, and chemical composi ion (s udied by Rie eld analysis) on he mic oha dness, ha dening a e, ac u e oughness, ans e se up u e s eng h, and Young’s modulus we e ela ed o he sin e ing condi ions. The op imiza ion o he sin e ing condi ions (1150 ◦C, 30 MPa, and 8 min’ dwell ime) d o e o a homogeneous mic os uc u e and ou s anding mechanical p ope ies. Also, he an alum was sugges ed o in luence he in e acial ene gies o he sys em, yielding a s onge ha d phase skele on. 1. In oduc ion Technically and comme cially, ce me s a e among he mos impo - an composi e ma e ials due o hei excep ional ha dness and wea esis ance. Because he cons i uen phases o i anium ca boni ide a e excep ionally ha d and s able, he ce me s based on his ma e ial ha e ex ao dina y esis ance o wea and c eep. They a e excellen op ions o use as cu ing ools because o hese quali ies. Ca bides like TaC, NbC, Mo 2 C, and WC, a e equen ly u ilized in milling applica ions and in e up ed cu s o enhance cu ing pe o mance. These ca bides o m solid-solu ion phases o mixed ca boni ides and exhibi ema kable ho ha dness and he mal shock endu ance. [1–3]. The ha d componen o ce me s, called he mas e alloy, has a composi ion ha de e mines bo h he p oduc ion condi ions and he in ended applica ion’s echnical pe o mance, making i c ucial [4]. I is widely accep ed in li e a u e [5–7] ha he o ma ion o ca boni ide solid solu ions in e ms o e na y o qua e na y componen s uc u e is gi en excellen pe o mance o ce me s syn hesized om he mix u e o unalloyed ha d componen s wi h Co o Ni as binde . Ca boni ide solid solu ions, which combine he ca bide and ni ide componen s in o a single phase, ha e been ecommended as a way o enhance he cha - ac e is ics o ce me s [8]. Based on Ti y M T1-y C x N 1-x ca boni ides (M T = Ta, Nb, Z , V) wi h a na ow size dis ibu ion and submic ome ic cha ac e (250 nm), mechanically induced sel -sus aining eac ion (MRS) has ecen ly been p oposed as a us wo hy and s aigh o wa d me hod o p oducing high pu i y complex solid solu ion powde s [9–12]. Con en ional ce amic ma e ial sin e ing me hods in ol e high empe a u es. A high deg ee o sin e ing is achie ed by hea ing he g een specimen o high empe a u es o p olonged pe iods in a ypical sin e ing echnique. The sin e ed i em usually con ains la ge g ains as a esul o hese un a o able condi ions, which eg e ably encou age unwan ed ca bide g ain de elopmen in he p esence o me al liquids. As a esul , he ool’s mechanical capabili ies a e educed. I is commonly known ha a ine mic os uc u e esul s in be e mechanical quali ies and a longe p oduc li espan. Spa k plasma sin e ing (SPS), in compa ison o p essu eless sin e - ing, is a no el sin e ing echnique ha applies p essu e and elec ic cu en o he sample simul aneously [13–14]. A compa a i ely low empe a u es (ap ox. 500 ◦C lowe han p essu eless sin e ing), and as e hea ing a es (ap ox. 100 ◦C/min), i enables he apid consoli- da ion o powde compac s o a high densi y. The SPS echnique has shown p omising esul s in educing he sin e ing empe a u e while simul aneously con olling g ain g ow h and seconda y phase o ma ion [15–17]. I is unique o esea ching bulk nanoma e ials because o he quick hea ing a e and po en ial o main ain he nanoscale du ing he apid sin e ing cycle. This s udy looked in o how he SPS se ings a ec ed he sin e ing o powde s wi h submic ome ic g ain sizes, Ti 0,9 Ta 0,1 C 0,5 N 0,5 /Co, ha we e p oduced ia MSR. The esul ing ce me s’ mic os uc u e and mechanical cha ac e is ics (ha dness, ac u e oughness, ans e se up u e s eng h (TRS), and Young’s modulus) we e assessed and con- as ed wi h hose o he compa able cemen ed ca bides and o dina y ce me s. E-mail add ess: [email p o ec ed]. Con en s lis s a ailable a ScienceDi ec In e na ional Jou nal o Re ac o y Me als and Ha d Ma e ials jou nal homepage: www.else ie .com/loca e/IJRMHM h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/j.ij mhm.2025.107094 Recei ed 4 Janua y 2025; Recei ed in e ised o m 29 Janua y 2025; Accep ed 12 Feb ua y 2025 In e na ional Jou nal o Re ac o y Me als and Ha d Ma e ials 128 (2025) 107094 A ailable online 13 Feb ua y 2025 0263-4368/© 2025 The Au ho . Published by Else ie L d. This is an open access a icle unde he CC BY license ( h p://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by/4.0/ ). 2. Ma e ials and me hods The Ti 0.9 Ta 0.1 C 0.5 N 0.5 solid solu ion was syn hesized by MRS, and he desc ip ion o he syn hesis p ocedu e and cha ac e iza ion (XRD, SEM, TEM, and image analysis) o he as-syn hesized powde s pe o med in a p e ious esea ch [12]. The ob ained powde s we e sin e ed using SPS-1050-CE (D . Sin e , Japan) a 1150 ◦C unde di e en holding imes and p essu es (see Table 1). X- ay di ac ion diag ams and Scanning Elec on Mic oscopy images o ce me s polished su aces we e ob ained using simila pa- ame e s as desc ibed in [18] The la ice pa ame e s, phase olume ac ion, and ce amic s oichiome y we e de e mined om he XRD di- ag am using he Rie eld analysis by he use o he Fullp o [19] com- pu e p og am. The Vicke s es was ca ied ou in a Mic oha dness FM-700 (Fu u e- Tech. Co p) wi h a load o 49 mN, 196 mN, and 981 mN and dwell ime anging om 5 s o 90 s a oom empe a u e. Se e al mic o- inden a ions (12 imes) a di e en loca ions we e aken on he pol- ished ce me o e e y un. The s a ed alue was ound om he a e age o he measu ed alues ( σ = ±5 %). The ac u e oughness (KIC) was measu ed by using h ee inden a ion me hods unde an inden a ion load o 1 kg and hey we e desc ibed below. The pieces o lexu al es s we e cu om he spa k plasma sin e ed cylinde s and buil in o ingo s wi h ba shapes (dimensions o 3×4×25 mm). The oom empe a u e (RT) lexu al s eng h was ca ied ou in a h ee-poin bending a angemen , using a c osshead speed o 0.5 mm/ min and span o 20 mm (AGS-X 10kN Se ies Dual Column Elec ome- chanical Tes F ame, Shimadzu, Japan). All samples we e g ound o dimensions using esin-bound diamond g inding wheels and su ace g inde s o achie e dimensional accu acy as well as good su ace inishing. The image analysis was ca ied ou by using he Image P o-Plus 6.0 so wa e and mic os uc u al pa ame e s we e ob ained as desc ibed in C´ o doba e al. [20]. 3. Resul s and discussion 3.1. Composi ional analysis The phase composi ion o he sin e ed bodies was in es iga ed by XRD analysis as shown in Fig. 1. The XRD pa e ns show he peaks cha ac e is ic o he ce amic phase (•) and he me allic binde phases consis ing o he in e me allics (*) Ti x Ta 1-x Co 2 [Fd3m] and (○) Ti x Ta 1- x Co [Pm3m] p oduced du ing he high- empe a u e sin e ing. Table 2 desc ibes he quan i ica ion o he phases obse ed in he XRD pa e ns, he la ice pa ame e s, he cohe en di ac ion domains, and he co - esponding ce amic composi ion ob ained om Rie eld analysis. As shown in Table 2, he Ti/Ta a io was somewha cons an ega dless o he sin e ing condi ions used. Howe e , he C/N a io o (Ti, Ta)(C, N) dec eased when he sin e ing condi ions we e s onge (C/ N a io; SPS1, 1.50, SPS2, 1.38; SPS3, 0.92; SPS4, 0.75). This ca bon loss was a ibu ed o he ca bon dissolu ion inc easing in he binde phase. The mos signi ican change in he binde phase con en (Table 2) is obse ed in sample SPS4, when a p essu e o 60 MPa was used. Because he powde con aine o he SPS is no sealed, he e was some loss o he binde du ing he p ocess, and a smalle amoun was obse ed and quan i ied by he composi ional analysis in compa ison wi h he o he samples. This ac was co obo a ed by he p esence o solidi ied d op- le s a he ou side o he con aine . In Fig. 2 a e shown cha ac e is ic sample SEM images sin e ed unde Table 1 Summa y o spa k plasma sin e ing condi ions. Sample Nominal Composi ion Weigh [g] Sin e ing Pa ame e s 1 Ti 0.90 Ta 0.10 C 0.5 N 0.5 +20 %Co 4 1150 ◦C 30 MPa 120 s 2 12 1150 ◦C 30 MPa 120 s 3 12 1150 ◦C 30 MPa 480 s 4 12 1150 ◦C 60 MPa 120 s Fig. 1. XRD pa e ns o he sin e ed ce me s by SPS. (•) Ti x Ta 1-x C y N 1-y [Fm3m], (*) Ti x Ta 1-x Co 2 [Fd3m], (○) Ti x Ta 1-x Co [Pm3m]. Table 2 Composi ion, la ice pa ame e , cohe en di ac ion domain o he ce amic phase, and desc ip ion o e e y binde phase ound by Rie eld analysis. Fo e e y phase he % ol. is included. The las column illus a es he goodness o i ness o e e y analysis ca ied ou . Ce amic Phase Binde Phase Sample Ce amic Composi ion a (Å) D [nm] % ol. Ce am Co 2 Ti(Ta) [Fd3m] [%] CoTi(Ta) [Pm3m] [%] χ 2 SPS1 Ti 0.90 Ta 0.10 C 0.60 N 0.40 43,162 33 78,7 15,7 5,6 1,8 SPS2 Ti 0.86 Ta 0.14 C 0.58 N 0.42 43,184 67 75,2 19,0 5,8 2,2 SPS3 Ti 0.91 Ta 0.09 C 0.48 N 0.52 43,157 74 77,1 18,0 4,8 3,0 SPS4 Ti 0.92 Ta 0.08 C 0.43 N 0.57 43,170 52 86,5 11,0 2,5 2,7 Fig. 2. SEM images showing he cha ac e is ic mic os uc u e o he sin- e ed powde s. J.M. C´ o doba Gallego In e na ional Jou nal o Re ac o y Me als and Ha d Ma e ials 128 (2025) 107094 2 di e en condi ions. Da a ob ained om he image analysis a e p e- sen ed in Table 3. Quan i ica ion o he phases p esen ed on he sin e ed samples h ough image analysis ga e esul s consis en wi h hose ob- ained by he XRD esul s by Rie eld analysis. All he samples p esen ed a highly dense (densi ica ion o ~98 % ±2 %, om image analysis, i e images a simila scale we e analyzed) and uni o m mic os uc u e. Al hough ea ly milling p oduc s con ained ypical pa icle agg ega es, no anomalous de elopmen o g ains was de ec ed. This indica es ha he sin e ing be ween agg ega es and ine pa icles was p e en ed by he spa k plasma sin e ing. Mos o he mic ome ic pa icles obse ed in samples SPS1 and SPS4 displayed a ypical co e- im mic os uc u e p o iding e idence o g ain g ow h by dissolu ion-p ecipi a ion p ocesses despi e he low empe a- u e and he sho esidence ime a he maximum sin e ing empe a- u e. In con as , he co e- im mic os uc u e app ecia ed in samples SPS2 and SPS3 is ba ely isible. The sample SPS1 showed he highes a e age ce amic pa icle size (Ø =2.56 μ m), while he samples SPS2, SPS3, and SPS4 we e lowe , and in c escendo om SPS2 o SPS4 (Ø =1.10, 1.95 and 2.28 μ m, espec- i ely). I is common o use an op ical py ome e ocused on he ou e su ace o he die o measu e and con ol he empe a u e du ing SPS expe imen s. This isn’ good enough o high hea ing a es, whe e he SPS p ocess’s iabili y is one o i s mos e iden bene i s. I migh be su icien o e y slow hea ing a es whe e he mal equilib ium can be eached. Mo eo e , because hea ing is esis i e, bo h he sample’s and he die’s conduc i i ies a ec he empe a u es inside and ou side he sample. The e is a no iceable empe a u e di e ence be ween he sam- ples when a low-conduc i e ma e ial is u ilized (in his example, a composi e made o ce amic and in e me allic phases) [21]. Due o he inc emen in mass on he samples om SPS1 o he es , he dis ance o be a eled by he cu en is inc eased, and he e o e he esis i i y o he sample ( esis i i y quan i ies how s ongly he ma e ial opposes he low o elec ic cu en and i is a unc ion o he dis ance oamed). So, he jump om 4 g (SPS1) o 12 g (SPS2, 3, and 4) inc eased he em- pe a u e g adien , he e o e he empe a u e eached inside sample SPS1 is highe han in he o he ones, and his e ec is shown in he coa sening o he SPS1 ce amic g ains espec he o he samples. Also, he o ma ion o a clea co e- im mic os uc u e in sample SPS1 (Fig. 2 (a)) co obo a ed he inside highe empe a u e eached. To o m a co e- im mic os uc u e, a liquid phase sin e ing has o be eached du ing he p ocess, and he e o e highe sin e ing empe a u es a e needed. When a simila weigh was used (samples SPS2, 3, and 4) and simila empe a u e inside he sample can be supposed, he g ain coa sening was due o an enhancemen o he elemen di usion du ing he sin e ing because o he inc emen in he sin e ing ime (SPS3) and p essu e (SPS4). Simila beha io was obse ed in e ms o con igui y and mean ee pa h. Sample SPS1 showed he highes con igui y and lowes mean ee pa h alues o he se o samples s udied, while samples SPS2, 3, and 4 showed an inc emen in he con igui y om SPS2(0.25) <SPS3(0.28) < SPS4(0.32) and a dec ease in he mean ee pa h om SPS2(1.32) > SPS3(1.27) >SPS4(1.20). As abo e, he coa sening o he g ains due o he highe empe a u e in sample SPS1 inc eased he con ac be ween he ce amic pa icles and he e o e he inc ease in he con igui y and he educ ion o he mean ee pa h. 3.2. Mechanical p ope ies In Table 3 is showed he ha dness, he ac u e oughness, he ans e se up u e s eng h and he young’s modulus o he samples s udied. Fig. 3 depic s SEM mic og aphs showing inden a ions c ea ed on he su ace o he in es iga ed objec , as well as c acks eme ging om hem, unde 1 kg o ce. Ha dness alues we e compu ed using he di- mensions o he imp ession c ea ed on he su ace o he specimens, and he alues epo ed in Table 3 a e he a e age o wel e uns. The SPS4 sample showed he highes ha dness (16.0 GPa) while he es o he samples p esen ed a mic oha dness o abou ~14 GPa. This can be explained by he loss o binde du ing he sin e ing p ocedu e which made he p ope combina ion o ce amic pa icle size and con- igui y o each he highes mic oha dness in sample SPS4. Mic oinden a ions a di e en loads (49 mN, 196 mN, and 981 mN) we e pe o med a se e al ime uns o es ablish he s eng hening o he ma e ial by wo k ha dening, and esul s a e p esen ed in Fig. 4. As a esul o disloca ion mo emen s and disloca ion gene a ion wi hin he ma e ial’s c ys al s uc u e, i is e iden ha he mic oha dness in- c eases wi h un ime. This esis ance o disloca ion- o ma ion shows up as a esis ance o plas ic de o ma ion, which accoun s o he obse ed Table 3 Vicke s ha dness, con igui y and a e age ee pa hway, wi h he a e age ce amic pa icle size, ce amic olume, binde olume and po ous olume ha we e ex ac ed om he image analysis o he selec ed samples. Image Analysis Mechanical P ope ies Con igui y (C) Mean ee pa h ( μ m) Ce amic Pa icle Size ( μ m) Ce amic Volume (% ol) Binde Volume (% ol) Po ous Volume (% ol) Sample H (1.0) [GPa] K ic [MPam 1/ 2 ]* T ans e se Rup u e S eng h [MPa] Young’s Modulus [GPa] 0,36 1,09 2,56 80 19 1 SPS114,1 6,2/5,4/ 5,0 130,6 139,7 0,25 1,32 1,10 78 21 1 SPS214,4 8,5/8,0/ 7,9 448,6 324,1 0,28 1,27 1,95 80 19 1 SPS314,6 7,4/7,0/ 7,1 546,0 402,7 0,32 1,20 2,28 85 14 1 SPS416,0 6,7/5,1/ 6,0 522,3 318,4 * Re , [22,23], [24,25]. Fig. 3. Cha ac e is ic SEM mic og aphs o mic oinden a ion ma ks ca ied ou on polished su ace o he sin e ed samples. J.M. C´ o doba Gallego In e na ional Jou nal o Re ac o y Me als and Ha d Ma e ials 128 (2025) 107094 3 s eng hening. F om he slope o he lineal i ing o he da a, he ha dening o he ma e ial as a unc ion o ime is p esen ed o e e y s udied sample o e e y load in Fig. 5. A highe load lowe ha dening a e was obse ed. A highe load, he a ea unde he inden a ion ip is bigge and he numbe o disloca ions, which con ibu es o he s eng hening, pe uni a ea was lowe han when low load was used. F ac u e oughness has been e alua ed o each sample using Eqs. (1)–(3). The esul s ob ained a e shown in Table 3, whe e sligh di e - ences in he calcula ed K ic can be seen depending on he exp ession used. (She y e al.) [22,23] KIC(P) = 0,0319×(P a× ∑l √)(1) (Shube e al) [24] KIC(S) = 0,0028× H ×P×∑l √(2) (E ans and Cha les e al.) [25] KIC(EC) = 0,16×H × a √ (c a) 3 / 2 (3) whe e K ic [M Pa m 1/2 ], P: load [N], l: c ack leng h: [mm], H : ha dness [N/mm 2 ], a: hal -diagonal [mm] and c: c ack+hal diagonal [mm]. I should be no ed a his poin ha he equa ion o Schube e al. [24] was de i ed om ha o She y e al. [22,23], and can be deduced by adjus ing he uni s and expe imen al pa ame e s. E en so, in ou case i was used as a way o in oducing di e en expe imen al pa ame e s in o an equa ion o ob ain K IC, and be able o compa e he da a ob ained wi h di e en expe imen al c i e ia. Finally, in his way, o K IC compa ison, while he E ans and Cha les equa ion, which was o med in he p e ious decade, was p oduced o ma e ials in gene al, he She y and Shube equa ions we e cons uc ed o composi e ma e ials, such as cemen ed ca bides (WC-Co), simila o he ma e ial p esen ed in his wo k. The a e age K ic alues ob ained om he equa ions used can be summa ized as; SPS1, 5.6; SPS2, 8.1; SPS3, 7.1 and SPS4, 5.9. These alues a e closely ela ed o he a e age g ain size and he mean ee pa h. The smalle he g ain size o highe he mean ee pa h is, he g ea e he ac u e oughness. The olume pe cen age o g ain bo de s o in e aces g ows signi ican ly wi h dec easing g ain size o inc easing mean ee pa h. In ma e ials such as in e me allic compounds and ce- amics, which a e usually ex emely s ong bu e y b i le, educing he g ain size o inc easing he mean ee pa h inc emen p omo es duc ili y by inc easing he p obabili y o g ain bounda y sliding. Pe o mance gains and a la ge p ocessing ad an age a e p o ided by his. The TRS and Young’s modulus de e mined a oom empe a u e o he s udied samples a e p esen ed in Table 3. A cons an sin e ing empe a u e, he oughe is he sin e ing condi ions (highe ime o highe applied p essu e), he g ea e is he TRS. Samples SPS3 and SPS4 showed he highes combina ion o TRS and Young’s modulus in com- pa ison wi h samples SPS1 and SPS2, showing he sample SPS1 he lowes alues o all s udied samples. The ema kable inc emen in TRS and Young’s modulus om sample SPS1 o samples SPS2, SPS3, and SPS4 can be explained in e ms o con igui y and mean ee pa h. The highe he mean ee pa h and lowe Fig. 4. Mic oha dness e sus ime o he inden a ion un showing he inc emen in he mic oha dness o he sample by wo king ha dening. Fig. 5. Ha dening a e (GPa/s) e sus inden a ion load. J.M. C´ o doba Gallego In e na ional Jou nal o Re ac o y Me als and Ha d Ma e ials 128 (2025) 107094 4 he con igui y is, he g ea e he TRS and Young’s modulus a e [26,27]. The combina ion o alues o ce amic pa icle size, con igui y and mean ee pa h made o he sample SPS3 is he bes ma ch o ha e he highes TRS alue. Cha ac e is ics SEM image o a ac u e su ace o sample SPS3 is p esen ed in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6(a), a seconda y elec ons image shows he opog aphy o he ac u e su ace, and in Fig. 6(b), a backsca e ing elec on image shows he phase dis ibu ion associa ed wi h he di e en con as s. The ac u e su ace obse ed o s udied ce me s showed mainly a ypical ans-g anula ac u e. This kind o ac u e mechanism showed he high adhesion be ween he ce amic phase and he in e me allic phase. I is sugges ed ha an alum p esence in lu- enced he in e acial ene gies o he sys em, yielding a s onge ha d phase sca olding. The ce me ac u e su aces become ine and he a io o in e - g anula ac u e inc eases o some ex en wi h he inc easing o ine ce amic g ins con en (Fig. 6, igh op). I is e iden ha he me al binde is s ill co e ing he g ains on he ac u e su ace, displaying dimples. The ollowing desc ibes he oughening mechanisms: he p esence o co eless g ains (samples SPS2 and SPS3) can be hough o be ad an- ageous o he ce me s’ oughness. I is simple o p omo e mo e ac u e o ma ion a he in e ace be ween he co e and im since he bonding o ce he e is weake han ha o he homogeneous g ain (samples SPS1 and SPS4). I implies ha highe ac u e oughness is achie ed by ce me s wi h a single phase and no co e/ im in e ac ion [28,29]. In compa ison wi h o he epo s [30] whe e an alum p esence wo sens he mechanical p ope ies, he spa k plasma sin e ing ech- nique has p o en o o m an adequa e en i onmen o he ob aining o sin e ed bodies wi h ou s anding mechanical p ope ies. 4. Conclusions The e ec s o SPS pa ame e s on mic os uc u e and mechanical p ope ies o Ti 0.9 Ta 0.1 C 0.5 N 0.5 /Co-based ce me s we e in es iga ed and he conclusions ob ained in his s udy can be summa ized as ollows: (i) Highly densi ied p oduc s we e ob ained independen ly o he condi ions used. (ii) The bes combina ion o mechanical p ope ies and homogeneous mic os uc u e was ob ained when sin e ing ime was held o 8 min a 30 MPa and 1150 ◦C. (iii) Ha dening a e was quan i ied as a unc ion o he mic oha dness e sus un ime. Conside ing he simplici y o he composi ions, hese ce me s showed g ea po en ial o u u e applica ions. The p esence o an alum is hough o ha e a posi i e e ec on he g ain and/o phase bo de s. I is p oposed ha an alum a ec s he sys em’s in e acial ene gies, esul ing in he p oduc ion o an in e me allic binde and a s onge ha d phase skele on. CRediT au ho ship con ibu ion s a emen Jos´ e Manuel C´ o doba Gallego: W i ing – e iew & edi ing, W i ing – o iginal d a , Visualiza ion, Valida ion, Supe ision, So wa e, Re- sou ces, P ojec adminis a ion, Me hodology, In es iga ion, Fo mal analysis, Da a cu a ion, Concep ualiza ion. Decla a ion o compe ing in e es The au ho s decla e ha hey ha e no known compe ing inancial in e es s o pe sonal ela ionships ha could ha e appea ed o in luence he wo k epo ed in his pape . Acknowledgmen s I would like o hank An onia Gallego C´ a denas and Jos´ e F ancisco C´ o doba Sosa o hei unwa e ing s eng h and suppo , o always pushing me o mo e o wa d e en in he mos di icul and haza dous si ua ions. Da a a ailabili y No da a was used o he esea ch desc ibed in he a icle. Re e ences [1] H. Yu, Y. Liu, Y. Jin, J. Ye, E ec o seconda y ca bides addi ion on he mic os uc u e and mechanical p ope ies o (Ti, W, Mo, V)(C, N)-based ce me s, In . J. Re ac. Me als Ha d Ma e . 29 (5) (2011) 586–590. [2] Dizaji V. Rahimi, , e al.J. Akba i, Mic os uc u e and cu ing pe o mance in es iga ion o Ti(C, N)-based ce me s con aining a ious ypes o seconda y ca bides, In . J. Mach. Tools Manu . 47 (5) (2007) 768–772. [3] P. Wu, Y. Zheng, Y. Zhao, H. Yu, E ec o TaC addi ion on he mic os uc u es and mechanical p ope ies o Ti(C,N)-based ce me s, Ma e . Des. 31 (7) (2010) 3537–3541. [4] P. E maye , H. Kolaska, W. Lengaue , K. D eye , Ti(C,N) ce me s-me allu gy and p ope ies, In . J. Re ac . Me . Ha d Ma e . 13 (6) (1995) 343–351. [5] F. Qi, S. Kang, S udy on mic os uc u al changes in Ti(C, N)-NbC-Ni ce me s, Ma e . Sci. Eng. A 251 (1–2) (1998) 276–285. [6] Te uuchi K., Yano N., Ti anium ca boni ide-based ce me cu ing inse , US Pa en No. 5,518,822, 1996. [7] V.I. T e ’yako , V.I. Mashe skaya, E ec o an alum on he p ope ies and s uc u e o ha d alloys based on i anium ca boni ide, V.I, Powde Me al. Me . Ce am. 38 (1–2) (1999) 64–67. [8] Rudy E., Spinodal ca boni ide alloys o ool and wea applica ions, US Pa en No. 3,971,656, 1976. [9] J.M. C´ o doba, M.J. Sayagu´ es, M.D. Alcal´ a, F.J. Go o , Monophasic nanos uc u ed powde s o niobium, an alum, and ha nium ca boni ides syn hesized by a mechanically induced sel -p opaga ing eac ion, J. Am. Ce am. Soc. 90 (2) (2007) 381–387. Fig. 6. SEM images o sample SPS3, (a) Seconda y elec on SEM image showing ac u e su ace opog aphy, and (b) Backsca e ing SEM image showing he ac u e su ace phases composi ion dis ibu ion (da k g ey, ce amic; b igh g ey, binde ). J.M. C´ o doba Gallego In e na ional Jou nal o Re ac o y Me als and Ha d Ma e ials 128 (2025) 107094 5 [10] J.M. C´ o doba, M.J. Sayagu´ es, M.D. Alcal´ a, F.J. Go o , Monophasic Ti y Nb 1-y C x N 1-x nanopowde s ob ained a oom empe a u e by MSR, J. Ma e . Chem. 17, [7] (2007) 650–653. [11] J.M. C´ o doba, M.D. Alcal´ a, M.A. A il´ es, M.J. Sayagu´ es, F.J. Go o , New p oduc ion o TiC x N 1-x -based ce me s by one s ep mechanically induced sel -sus aining eac ion: powde syn hesis and p essu eless sin e ing, J. Eu . Ce am. Soc. 28 (10) (2008) 2085–2098. [12] J.M. C´ o doba, M.A. A il´ es, M.J. Sayagu´ es, M.D. Alcal´ a, F.J. Go o , Syn hesis o complex ca boni ide powde s Ti y M T1-y C x N 1-x (M T : Z , V, Ta, H ) ia a mechanically induced sel -sus aining eac ion, J. Alloys Compd. 482 (1–2) (2009) 349–355. [13] Z.A. Muni , U. Anselmi-Tambu ini, M. Ohyanagi, The e ec o elec ic ield and p essu e on he syn hesis and consolida ion o ma e ials: a e iew o he spa k plasma sin e ing me hod, J. Ma e . Sci. 41 (2006) 763–777. [14] M. Omo i, Sin e ing, consolida ion, eac ion and c ys al g ow h by he spa k plasma sys em (SPS), Ma e . Sci. Eng. A 287 (2) (2000) 183–188. [15] E. Khaleghi, Y.S. Lin, M.A. Meye s, E.A. Ole sky, Spa k plasma sin e ing o an alum ca bide, Sc ip a Ma e . 63 (2010) 577–580. [16] V. Mamedo , Spa k plasma sin e ing as ad anced PM sin e ing me hod, Powde Me all. 45 (4) (2002) 322–328. [17] C.C. Jia, H. Tang, X.Z. Mei, F.-Z. Yin, X.H. Qu, Spa k plasma sin e ing on nanome e scale WC-Co powde , Ma e . Le e s 59 (19–20) (2005) 2566–2569. [18] J.M. C´ o doba, e al., Spa k plasma sin e ing o Ti x Ta 1-x C 0.5 N 0.5 -based ce me s: e ec s o p ocessing condi ions on chemis y, mic os uc u e and mechanical p ope ies, Chem. Eng. J. 230 (2013) 558–566. [19] J. Rod íguez-Ca ajal, R. Thie y, FullP o ILL. h ps://www.ill.eu/si es/ ullp o /, May, 2010. [20] J.M. C´ o doba, E. Chica di, F.J. Go o , De elopmen o mul icomponen -mul iphase ma e ials based on (Ti,Ta,Nb)C x N 1-x ca boni ide solid solu ions, Chem. Eng. J. 192 (2012) 58–661. [21] U.A. Tambu ini, S. Genna i, J.E. Ga ay, Z.A. Muni , Fundamen al in es iga ions on he spa k plasma sin e ing/syn hesis p ocess II. Modeleing o cu en and empe a u e dis ibu ions, Ma e . Sci. Eng. A 394 (2005) 139–148. [22] D.K. She y, I.G. W igh , P.N. Mince , A.H. Claue , Inden a ion ac u e o . WC-Co ce me s, J. Ma e . Sci. 20 (1985) 1873–1882. [23] D.K. She y, I.G. W igh , On es ima ing ac u e oughness o cemen ed ca bides om Palmq is c ack sizes, J. Ma e . Sci. Le . 5 (1986) 365–368. [24] W.D. Schube , H. Neumeis e , G. Kinge , Ha dness o oughness ela ionship o ine-g ained WC-Co ha dme als, In . J. Re ac . 16 (1998) 133–142. [25] A.G. E ans, E.A. Cha les, F ac u e oughness de e mina ion by. inden a ion, J. Am. Ce am. Soc. 59 (1976) 371–372. [26] K. Chang-Soo, Mic os uc u al-mechanical p ope y ela ionships in ungs en ca bide-cobal composi es, Doc o al Thesis, Ca negie Mellon Uni e si y, 2004. Publica ion N◦: AAI3146413; ISBN: 9780496075584; Ad iso : Massa, Ted R, h p://mimp.ma e ials.cmu.edu/~g 20/ heses/Kim_ hesis.pd . [27] Z. Guo, J. Xiong, M. Yang, C. Jiang, WC–TiC–Ni cemen ed ca bide wi h enhanced p ope ies, J. Alloys Compd. 465 (2008) 157–162. [28] A. Celli, A. Tucci, L. Esposi o, C. Palmona i, F ac u e analysis o c acks in alumina–zi conia composi es, J. Eu . Ce am. Soc. 23 (2003) 469–479. [29] S. Pa k, S. Kang, Toughened ul a- ine (Ti, W)(CN)–Ni ce me s, Sc . Ma e . 52 (2005) 129–133. [30] M. Fides, e al., TiTaCN-Co ce me s p epa ed by mechanochemical echnique: mic os uc u e and mechanical p ope ies, P ocedia Eng. 149 (2016) 87–93. J.M. C´ o doba Gallego In e na ional Jou nal o Re ac o y Me als and Ha d Ma e ials 128 (2025) 107094 6