The aim of the research was to disclose the performance of ceramic-metal composites, in particular TiC-based cermets and WC-Co hardmetals, as tool materials for friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium alloys, stainless steels and copper. The model tests were used to study the wear of tools during cutting of metallic workpiece materials. The primary focus was on the performance and degradation mechanism of tool materials during testing under conditions simulating the FSW process, in particular the welding process temperature. Carbide composites were produced using a common press-and-sinter powder metallurgy technique. The model tests were performed on a universal lathe at the cutting speeds enabling cutting temperatures comparable the temperatures of the FSW of aluminium alloys, stainless steels and pure copper. The wear rate of tools was evaluated as the shortening of the length of the cutting tool nose tip and reaction diffusion tests were performed for better understanding of the diffusion-controlled processes during tool degradation (wear). It was concluded that cermets, in particular TiC-NiMo with 75–80 wt.% TiC, show the highest performance in tests with counterparts from aluminium alloy and austenitic stainless steel. On the other hand, in the model tests with copper workpiece, WC-Co hardmetals, in particular composites with 90–94 wt.% WC, outperform most of TiC-based cermet, including TiC-NiMo. Tools from ceramic-metal composites wear most commonly by mechanisms based on adhesion and diffusion.

Mechanical and tribological properties of the hard-multilayer TiN-AlTiN/nACo-CrN/AlCrN-AlCrO-AlTiCrN coating deposited on WC-Co substrate were investigated. The sliding tests were carried out using ball-on-disc tribometer at room (25 °C) and high temperatures (600 and 800 °C) with Al₂O₃ balls as counterpart. Nano-scratch tests were performed at room temperature with a sphero-conical diamond indenter. The surface morphology and chemical composition were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and in-situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD). The phase transition from fcc-(Al,Cr)₂O₃ into α-(Al,Cr)₂O₃ was observed at about 800 °C. The results of the tribological tests depends on the temperature, the lowest apparent and real wear volumes were observed on the coating after the test at 800 °C along with the smallest coefficient of friction (COF). The plastic deformation of the coating was confirmed in sliding and nano-scratch tests. The nano-scratch tests revealed the dependence of COF value on the temperature of the sliding tests.

The thermal behavior of green clay samples from the Arumetsa and Füzérradvány deposits (Hungary) and the influence of two new types of Estonian oil shale (OS) ashes and cement bypass dust (clinker dust) additives on it were the objectives of this study. Thermal and thermo-dilatometric analysis methods were applied using a Setaram Setsys 1750 thermoanalyzer coupled with a Pfeiffer Omnistar spectrometer and a Setaram Setsys 1750 CS Evolution dilatometer. The kinetic parameters were calculated based on the differential isoconversional method of Friedman. The results of the thermal analysis of clays and blends indicated the emission of physically bound water at 200–250 °C. At temperatures from 200–250 °C to 550–600 °C the release of water is caused by oxidation of organic matter and dehydroxylation of different clay minerals like illite, illite-smectite, mica and kaolin. From blends, in addition, also from the decomposition of portlandite. The emission of CO₂ at these temperatures was a result of the oxidation of organic matter contained in the clays. In the temperature range from 550–600 °C to 800–900 °C, the mass loss was caused by ongoing dehydroxylation processes in clay minerals but was mainly due to the decomposition of the carbonates contained in the OS ashes and clinker dust. These processes were accompanied by contraction and expansion of the ceramic bodies with the corresponding changes in the SSA and porosity values of the samples. Therefore, the decomposition of the clays took place in one step which blends in two steps. At first, dehydroxylation of the clay minerals occurs, followed by decomposition of the carbonates. The value of the conversion-dependent activation energy E along the reaction progress α varied for the Arumetsa and illitic clay between 75–182 and 9–206 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. For the blends based on Arumetsa and illitic clay, the activation energy of the first step varied between 14–193 and 5–205 kJ mol⁻¹, and for the second step, it was between 15–390 and 135–235 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, indicating the complex mechanism of the processes.

The focus is on the oxidation resistance and tribological performance of ta-C and Al₂O₃/ta-C coatings. The wear tests were carried out on the ball on disc tribometer at room (25 °C) and high (400, 450 and 500 °C) temperatures in ambient air with Si₃N₄ balls as counterbodies. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze the surface morphology and chemical bonding, respectively. The Al₂O₃/ta-C coating exhibited better oxidation resistance and tribological performance at elevated temperatures than the ta-C coating. The Raman analysis revealed that a thin alumina layer suppresses structural changes in the ta-C coating at elevated temperatures, thus preserving the sp³ content.

The study investigates thermal stability and high temperature tribological performance of a-C:H:Si diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. A thin alumina layer was deposited on top of the a-C:H:Si coating to improve the tribological performance at high temperatures. The a-C:H:Si coating and alumina layer were prepared using plasma-activated chemical vapour deposition and atomic layer deposition, respectively. Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to investigate the structures and chemical compositions of the specimens. The D and G Raman peaks due to sp² bonding and the peaks corresponding to the trans-polyacetylene (t-Pa) and sp bonded chains were identified in the Raman spectra of the a-C:H:Si coating. Ball-on-disc sliding tests were carried out at room temperature and 400 °C using Si₃N₄ balls as counter bodies. The a-C:H:Si coating failed catastrophically in sliding tests at 400 °C; however, a repeatable and reproducible regime of sliding with a low coefficient of friction was observed for the Al₂O₃/a-C:H:Si coating at the same temperature. The presence of the alumina layer and high stress and temperature caused structural changes in the bulk a-C:H:Si and top layers located near the contact area, leading to the modification of the contact conditions, delivering of extra oxygen into the contact area, reduction of hydrogen effusion, and suppression of the atmospheric oxidation.

The Taguchi method is an effective technique for minimizing the number of experiments and thus to save time during experimental research. This research analyzes the conditions of in-situ synthesis of TiC in the plasma transferred arc welded (PTAW) hardfacings by using the Taguchi method. 316L stainless steel, TiO₂ and graphite feedstock powders were subjected to 72 hours ball milling, pre-laid on the S235 carbon steel substrate and remelted by the plasma arc. In the L9 (3 ^ 3) orthogonal array design, 3-levels of graphite content (25, 35 and 45 g), welding currents (95, 105 and 115 A), and binders (paraffine and liquid glass) were used. The effectivity of TiC generation was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Vickers hardness analysis was conducted on the hardfacings.