Electron-beam treatment of tungsten-free TiC/NiCr cermet I: Influence of subsurface layer microstructure on resistance to wear during cutting of metals

An experimental investigation were performed on the effect of the impulse electron-beam irradiation upon microstructure of the surface layer and on wear resistance of a cutting tool for sintered TiC/NiCr cermet. The results showed that the surface electron-beam treatment of the TiC/NiCr cermet is an efficient method for investigating the microstructure and phase composition in the surface layer of the powder composite and there are optimal regimes of electron-beam treatment, which ensure a substantial increase in the resistance of the cermet to wear during cutting of metals.