Sintering of cBN Based Materials with a TaC Binder for Cutting Tool Application

Abstract: Ceramic matrix composites based on cubic boron nitride with a TaC binder phase are sintered under conditions of high pressure and high temperature. The sintering is carried out in a high-pressure apparatus of the toroid type in the temperature range of 1450–2450°C. It is shown that a chemical reaction between components of the mixture with the formation of TaB2 takes place at a sintering temperature above 2150°C. The microhardness of the composites increases with an increase in the sintering temperature and reaches a maximum value (34 GPa) at 2150°C. The composites show high resistance to mechanochemical wear when used for high-speed machining of nickel-based alloy Inconel 718