Abrasion resistant composition

1. A surface covering composition adapted for disposition in overlying bonded relation to a metal substrate, the surface covering composition comprising a plurality of metal carbide particles disposed within a metal matrix at a packing factor of not less than about 0.6 as measured by area occupancy ratio of the carbide particles within a defined measurement zone within the surface covering composition, the defined measurement zone extending from the metal substrate to a position about 3 mm above the metal substrate, at least 40 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles being characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix, at least 10 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles being characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +32-60 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix, and at least 3 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles being characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +80-120 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

2. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said metal carbide particles include tungsten carbide particles.

3. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said tungsten carbide particles are cemented with cobalt.

4. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said metal carbide particles include tungsten carbide particles cemented with cobalt and said metal matrix is steel.

5. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least 10 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +22-32 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

6. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 5 , wherein at least 5 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter of +60 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

7. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least 50 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

8. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 7 , wherein at least 10 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +22-32 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

9. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least 5 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter of +60 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

10. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least 70 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

11. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 10 , wherein at least 10 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +22-32 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

12. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least 5 percent by weight of said metal carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter of +60 mesh prior to introduction to the metal matrix.

13. A surface covering composition adapted for disposition in overlying bonded relation to a metal substrate, the surface covering composition comprising a plurality of tungsten carbide particles disposed within a steel matrix at a packing factor of not less than about 0.6, as measured by average area occupancy ratio of the carbide particles within a defined measurement zone within the surface covering composition, the defined measurement zone extending from the metal substrate to a position about 3 mm above the metal substrate, at least 95% by weight of said tungsten carbide particles being characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-120 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix, at least 40 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles being characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix, at least 10 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +32-60 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix, and at least 3 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles being characterized by an effective diameter of +80 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix.

14. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 13 , wherein at least 50 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix.

15. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 14 , wherein at least 5 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter of +80 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix.

16. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 13 , wherein at least 70 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix.

17. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 16 , wherein at least 5 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter of +80 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix.

18. The surface covering composition as recited in claim 13 , wherein at least 65 percent by weight of said tungsten carbide particles are characterized by an effective diameter in the range of +14-32 mesh prior to introduction to the steel matrix.