Abstract Preparing iron-based composites with zirconia toughened alumina particles (ZTAp) and mixed carbide niobium particles (NbCp) by powder metallurgy has been established as an important way to extend the service life of the cutting teeth. However, the severe shedding of ZTAp under harsh working conditions significantly reduces the performance of the composite material. In this paper, the surface of ZTAp was plated with cobalt to improve interface bonding with the iron matrix. Subsequently, the composite material was subjected to impact abrasive wear tests. The primary factor affecting the electroless plating process is the pH value of the plating solution, followed by the concentration of NaH 2 PO 2 ·H 2 O, and the concentration of C 4 H 4 Na 2 O 6 ·2H 2 O. The composite material containing 15 % mass fraction of irregularly shaped ZTAp particles (2 mm) exhibited enhanced hardness and excellent overall performance. The wear progression of the composite material was characterized by three stages: matrix wear, the particle wear resistance, and particle shedding. The cobalt layer deposited on the surface of ZTAp mainly reinforced the bonding with the iron matrix, improved wear resistance during the particle wear resistance phase, and prolonged the protective influence of ZTAp on the matrix. Overall, these findings provide a valuable basis for optimizing the wear performance of composite.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.