Abstract: The character of structural changes in the surface layer of titanium carbide (TiC) with Ni-Cr alloy binder was investigated theoretically and experimentally after electron-beam treatment of the material surface. The thermal influence of the electron-beam irradiation on the surface layer microstructure of the composite fine-grained material was mathematically analyzed. Quantitative estimations of the depth of the zone in microstructural phase transformations were carried out. The microstructure and concentration profile of Ti distribution in the metallic binder over the cross section of the surface layer with microstructural phase transformations after electron-pulse treatment of the hard metal surface were experimentally investigated.

Key words: Cermets, TiC/NiCr, Electron-beam treatment, Structural transformation