About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T25: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
2025 Graduate Student Poster Contest
|
| Presentation Title |
SPG-29: Electric Field and Friction Assisted Sintering of Nanocrystalline WC-Co Films: An In-Situ Study |
| Author(s) |
Bunty Tomar, Pranjal Nautiyal |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Bunty Tomar |
| Abstract Scope |
Refractory nanocomposite films are employed to prevent wear-induced failures under harsh conditions, but their fabrication requires elevated temperatures, which causes undesirable microstructural transformations. This study presents a novel electric field- and stress-assisted sintering method for fabricating WC-Co films at only 100°C. In this process, a nanoparticle-containing fluid is supplied to a sliding/rolling interface while simultaneously passing electric current through the contact. Elevated contact stresses (>1 GPa) and electric fields (~74 A/mm²) drive nanoparticle sintering, forming nanocrystalline films on contacting surfaces. We measured the growth kinetics of films using in-situ optical interferometry. The applied current enhanced film thickness, reduced surface roughness, and increased the incorporation of WC in thin films due to Joule heating. Co played a critical role in facilitating film nucleation and growth via electroplasticity mechanism, acting as a deformable matrix for embedding hard WC particles. This approach provides a low-temperature pathway for fabricating thin films of refractory nanocomposites. |