▎ 摘　　要

TiC-Ni3Al cermets are potential replacement materials for WC-based hardmetals in several applications. Potential improvements to selected mechanical and tribological properties of these cermets are investigated, through addition of graphene nano-platelets (GNPs) to a baseline TiC-30 vol.% Ni3Al cermet system. GNP contents up to 2.5 vol.% were assessed, replacing Ni3Al in the overall composition, with samples vacuum sintered at 1550 degrees C for 2 h. GNP additions up to 2.5 vol.% increase the Vickers hardness (from similar to 1060 to similar to 1220 HV1) and indentation fracture resistance (from similar to 14.2 to similar to 16.7 MPa m(0.5)). GNP additions significantly lower the coefficient of friction, from 0.53 to 0.15, and the specific wear rate, from similar to 15.5 to similar to 1.7 x 10(-6) mm(3)/ Nm, when assessed with a pin-on-ring wear test geometry.