Research and Developments of Ceramic-Reinforced Steel Matrix Composites—a Comprehensive Review

Steel matrix composites are widely used in automotive, aerospace, wear, and cutting applications due to their superior mechanical properties, ease of manufacture, and low cost. However, there are still some limitations in the strength, reinforcement dispersion, and interface control of steel matrix composites, which are mainly achieved through different preparation processes and the addition of reinforced particles with mixed metal powders. Previous studies have demonstrated the enhanced ability of various reinforcing particles such as titanium carbide, silicon carbide, and alumina to enhance the wear performance of steel substrates, but there are still some challenges, such as uneven particle distribution, interface cracks, and unsatisfactory wettability. In this paper, the preparation methods of ceramic-reinforced metal matrix, ceramic reinforcement, steel matrix composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, and wear properties, as well as the parameters affecting their properties, are reviewed. The preparation processes of different ceramic-reinforced steel matrix composites are introduced, which are very suitable for overcoming challenges such as insufficient strength, poor dispersion, uneven distribution, and poor interfacial wettability. The influence of the morphology distribution and volume fraction of reinforcement on the wear rate of steel matrix composites was discussed. The importance of the microstructure of ceramic reinforcement in steel matrix and the interface between ceramic and matrix to improve the mechanical properties of steel matrix composites were emphasized. This review identifies the development trends in the field of research to fully illustrate the importance of more in-depth scientific research in steel matrix composites.