Cermets are composite materials composed of a combination of ceramic and metallic components, designed to leverage the high-temperature resistance of ceramics and the toughness and ductility of metals.
Step 1: Understanding Cermets
- Ceramics provide high hardness, wear resistance, and high-temperature stability.
- Metals provide toughness and improve the material’s ability to withstand mechanical shock.
Step 2: Common Applications of Cermets
- Used in cutting tools, aerospace applications, and armor-piercing projectiles.
- Examples: Tungsten carbide (WC), Titanium carbide (TiC), Titanium nitride (TiN) bonded with metals like cobalt (Co) or nickel (Ni).
Step 3: Evaluating the Options
- Option (A) - Correct: Cermets are a combination of ceramic and metal.
- Option (B) - Incorrect: Ceramic-ceramic composites exist but are not classified as cermets.
- Option (C) - Incorrect: Metal-metal alloys exist, but they are not cermets.
- Option (D) - Incorrect: Polymer-metal composites are different from cermets.
Step 4: Conclusion
Since cermets are a combination of ceramic and metal, the correct answer is option (A).