Production and analysis of ceramic-metal composite material by using tungsten carbide powders coated with nickel by chemical technique

In this study, the production and properties of ceramic-metal composites producedusing WC powders that are Ni coated by a chemical method. Chemical bathcontained NiCI2.6H2O (Nickel chloride) from which Ni atoms dissociate orreleased to bath. Using this bath 7 µm WC and 20µm Al powders are treated.In this study, electroless coating was attempted to two different mixture; firstmixture contained WC and Al powders, while the second mixture contained only70% WC the remaining was assumed Ni from chemical bath. Hence, highpercentage of ceramic powder mixed with metal powder was the targetcomposition to produce metal matrix composite. Liquid phase sintering waschosen as sintering media.SEM, EDX, DTA-TG and micro-hardness analysis have been investigated. Bestsintering temperatures , 1150 0C, obtained after thermal analysis. After sintering;239,8 HV has been found. Vickers hardness value showed us that the sampleshave high porosity.Keywords : Powder Metallurgy, Composite Materials, Electroless Nickel Plating