Cermet Systems: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Cermet is an advanced class of material consisting of a hard ceramic phase along with a metallic binding phase with the combined advantages of both the ceramic and the metal phase. The superior properties of this class of materials are particularly useful in high-temperature, tribological, and machining applications. This review paper seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the various cermet systems. More specifically, the most commonly used cermet systems based on tungsten carbide (WC), titanium carbide (TiC), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) are discussed based on their development, properties, and applications. The effect of different metallic binders and their composition on the tribological and mechanical properties of these cermet systems is elaborated. The most common processing techniques for cermet systems, such as powder metallurgy (PM), reaction synthesis (RS), thermal spray (TS), cold spray (CS), and laser-based additive manufacturing techniques are discussed. The influence of the processing parameters in each case is evaluated. Finally, the applications and challenges of cermet systems are summarized.