Densification, microstructure and tribomechanical properties of spark plasma sintering (SPS) processed β-SiAlON (20–40 wt%) bonded WC matrix composites have been reported. All the specimens achieved almost their theoretical density values after SPS at 1750 °C for 25 min under 40 MPa. Incorporation of β-SiAlON in WC significantly altered the densification trend of the composites resembling that of pure β-SiAlON. Microstructural investigations using scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed formation of principally equiaxed, micron sized WC grains surrounded by the sub-micron to micron sized β-SiAlON phase. The interface region between WC and β-SiAlON was found to be free of any reaction product. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrum confirmed presence of characteristics elements in both WC and β-SiAlON phases in the composite. The maximum Vickers hardness (~18 GPa) and fracture toughness (~6.8 MPa-m^0.5) under 10 kgf were obtained for the 30 wt% β-SiAlON/WC composite. These were almost 6% and 50% higher, respectively, than those obtained for pure WC. Indentation size effect (ISE) analyses of some selected specimens indicated moderate sensitivity towards ISE (Meyer's exponent = 1.802) of the 30 wt% β-SiAlON/WC composite and higher true hardness (~15.4 GPa) than those obtained for both the constituent phases. The load dependence of fracture toughness of some selected specimens has also been reported. Unlubricated wear studies under 30 N up to 250 m using ball-on-disc configuration indicated ~46–55 times higher specific wear rate of the β-Si₃N₄ ball when rubbed against the composites compared to that (~8 × 10⁻⁶ mm³/N-m) obtained against pure WC. Formation of compacted flaky tribo-layer within the wear track of the composites was evidenced.

已经报道了火花等离子体烧结（SPS）处理的β-SiAlON（20-40 wt％）结合的WC基复合材料的致密化，微观结构和摩擦力学性能。在40 MPa下于1750°C进行25分钟的SPS处理后，所有样品几乎达到了其理论密度值。WC中加入β-SiAlON可以显着改变复合材料的致密化趋势，类似于纯β-SiAlON。使用扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜的显微结构研究表明，形成了等轴的微米级WC晶粒，并被亚微米级至微米级的β-SiAlON相包围。发现WC和β-SiAlON之间的界面区域没有任何反应产物。能量色散X射线光谱证实了复合材料中WC相和β-SiAlON相均存在特征元素。对于30wt％的β-SiAlON/ WC复合物，获得10kgf下的^0.5％的重量。与纯WC相比，它们分别高出近6％和50％。对某些选定样品的压痕尺寸效应（ISE）分析表明，30重量％β-SiAlON/ WC复合材料对ISE的中等敏感性（迈耶指数= 1.802），并且比两个组成相所获得的真实硬度更高（〜15.4 GPa） 。还报道了一些选定试样的断裂韧性与载荷的关系。无润滑磨损的研究下使用球-盘配置30 N高达250 M所示的β型Si的〜46-55倍更高的比磨损率₃ Ñ ₄时抵靠摩擦复合材料相比于（〜8×10球^{- 6} 毫米³/ Nm）。证实在复合材料的磨损轨迹内形成了压实的片状摩擦层。