Effect of VC and NbC additions on microstructure and properties of ultrafine WC-10Co cemented carbides

The nanocomposite WC-Co powders were prepared through planetary ball milling method. Effects of grain growth inhibitor addition and the vacuum sintering parameters on the microstructure and properties of ultrafine WC-10Co cemented carbides were investigated using X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and mechanical property tester. The results show that VC and NbC additions can refine the WC grains, decrease the volume fraction of Co₃W₃C phase in ultrafine WC-10Co cemented carbides, and increase the hardness and fracture toughness of the base alloys. After sintering for 60 min at 1400 °C, the average grain size and hardness of ultrafine-grained WC-10Co-1VC cemented carbide are 470 nm and HRA 91.5, respectively. The fracture toughness of cemented carbide WC-10Co-1NbC alloy is over 7 MN·m^?3/2.     

含WB烧结硬质合金的组织结构和性能研究

将不同含量的WB粉末添加到传统成分的WC-Co粉末中,利用低压烧结技术制备了系列含WB的WC-Co型硬质合金,并对其物相组成、组织结构和力学性能进行了系统表征分析。研究发现,在低压烧结过程中WB与Co发生反应,生成了具有超高硬度的WCoB相,由此降低了粘结相Co对WC晶粒的隔离,增加了WC晶粒间的接触度,引起合金韧性下降。添加WB制备的硬质合金材料其摩擦系数更低,随WB添加量的增加,硬度和耐磨性明显提高,当WB添加量为30%(质量分数)时,制备的硬质合金材料的硬度达到19 000 MPa,其磨损速率仅为传统WC-Co硬质合金1/10。然而,添加WB的WC-Co合金的断裂韧性约为传统WC-Co硬质合金的83%~91%。     

Understanding the potential of microwave sintering on WC - Co

Tungsten-rich cemented carbides are known for their excellent features in terms of balancing strength, durability, wear resistance and fracture toughness. Conventional sintering has been widely used to manufacture these strong and hard materials, even with its shortcomings in manufacturing time, energy requirement and strength threshold, paving way for a number of new and enhanced processing techniques aimed at developing high performance carbide tools. Microwave sintering has been successfully applied to a range of materials, including ceramics and a broad series of refractory metals. This study used microwave sintering to manufacture high-strength WC-Co alloys requiring significantly less time and processing steps, and without grain growth inhibitors as part of the composition. Particles, sized between 100 and 500 nm, were compacted using a conventional, unidirectional press at room temperature to create loosely bonded green samples that were later microwave sintered. The effect of sintering temperature and initial particle size, and how each of these influences the microwave behaviour for such range of materials, are also discussed. The maximum demonstrated hardness in submicron samples was 1800 HV, which is 20% larger than most industrial cutting tools manufactured using conventional routes. Fracture toughness was calculated from combining the hardness results and crack length measurements. Submicron particles exhibited great fracture toughness with a maximum of 14 MPa√m, which is impressive considering the high hardness achieved in these samples. The samples with enhanced mechanical behaviour, including hardness and fracture toughness, demonstrated homogeneity in grain size, grain growth and WC-Co bonding.     

Novel hardmetals with nano-grain reinforced binder for hard-facings

Ordinary hard-facings obtained by plasma spraying or thermal spraying are characterized by a combination of hardness, wear-resistance and fracture toughness inferior to that of conventional WC-Co hardmetals. Therefore, in the majority of applications they are incomparable with WC-Co materials and cannot substitute them. A fundamentally new approach to the fabrication of novel WC-based hardmetals in form of hard-facing obtained by PTA (plasma transferred arc) welding was elaborated. The microstructure of the novel hardmetals of the W-C-Fe-Cr-Si system depends on the plasma welding parameters and consists of carbide grains embedded in a Fe-based binder. The binder comprises hard nano-precipitates in form of nanoparticles of the η-type phases and mixed Cr-Fe carbides embedded in a Fe-based binder matrix. The wear-resistance of the novel hardmetals obtained in form of hard-facings is comparable with that of conventional WC-Co hardmetals fabricated by the powder metallurgy technology.     

Contact damage and residual strength in hardmetals

In most of the applications where hardmetals are implemented, mechanical contact plays an important role from a design viewpoint, either as direct key parameter (e.g. wear resistance) or as indirect relevant factor (e.g. residual strength associated with contact-induced damage). In this work, the contact response of three cemented carbides WC-Co with different microstructural features is evaluated. The study is performed using spherical indenters (Hertzian contact) and it is focused on: 1) determining the critical loading parameters affiliated to the emergence and evolution of damage; and 2) investigating the relevance of microstructure on the levels of residual strength attained. It is found that strength retention is improved as contact damage mode goes from brittle to quasi-plastic, a transition directly dependent on microstructure. Hence, microstructural design searching for higher damage tolerance (i.e. deformation prevailing over fracture as damage mode) is concluded to be an optimal approach for the development of hardmetals with improved reliability. In practical terms, this is achieved by enhancing toughness through either higher binder content and/or microstructural coarsening, as far as the field application requirements are satisfied.     

Mechanical properties of a hybrid cemented carbide composite

Microstructural effects on the mechanical properties of a hybrid metal matrix composite, double cemented (DC) carbide, have been investigated. DC carbide contains granules of WC/Co cemented carbide in a matrix of cobalt. Overall composite hardness increases with decreased granule cobalt content as well as with decreased intergranular matrix fraction of cobalt. High-stress abrasive wear resistance also increases with decreased granule cobalt content and matrix fraction. Fracture toughness of the composite increases with increased cobalt matrix fraction and to a lesser extent with increased granule cobalt content. Increased granule size increases both fracture toughness and wear resistance. DC carbide exhibits a superior combination of fracture toughness and high-stress wear resistance than conventional cemented carbide. The combination of toughness and wear resistance in the composite improves with increased granule hardness.     

烧结温度对WC-Co-Ti3SiC2硬质合金微观组织与力学性能的影响

以掺杂3.0%Ti₃SiC₂(质量分数)的WC-Co-Ti₃SiC₂硬质合金为对象,研究了烧结温度(1350～1470℃)对WC-Co-Ti₃SiC₂硬质合金中的Ti₃SiC₂分解产物和比例、微观组织及力学性能的影响规律与机制。结果表明：烧结温度的升高促进了WC-Co-Ti₃Si C₂硬质合金中Ti₃Si C₂的分解以及(W,Ti)C和WSi₂相的生成,同时导致WC晶粒尺寸逐渐增大。硬质合金的硬度随烧结温度的升高呈现出先增大后降低的趋势,而断裂韧性则逐渐下降。当烧结温度为1410℃时,WC-Co-Ti₃Si C₂硬质合金的致密性最佳(孔隙率仅为0.47%),其力学性能也较为优异,硬度与断裂韧性分别为20 348.328 MPa和10.15 MPa·m^1...     

Influence of consolidation process and sintering temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of near nano- and nano-structured WC-Co cemented carbides

In this paper the influence of the consolidation process and sintering temperature on the properties of near nano- and nano-structured cemented carbides was researched. Samples were consolidated from a WC 9-Co mixture by two different powder metallurgy processes; conventional sintering in hydrogen and the sinter-HIP process. Two WC powders with different grain growth inhibitors were selected for the research. Both WC powders used were near nanoscaled and had a grain size of 150 nm and a specific surface area of 2.5 m²/g. Special emphasis was placed on microstructure and mechanical properties; hardness and fracture toughness of sintered samples. Consolidated samples are characterised by different microstructural and mechanical properties with respect to the sintering temperature, the consolidation process used and grain growth inhibitors in starting powders. Increasing sintering temperature leads to microstructure irregularities and inferior hardness, especially for samples sintered in hydrogen. The addition of Cr₃C₂ in the starting powder reduced a carbide grain growth during sintering, improved microstructural characteristics, increased Vickers hardness and fracture toughness. The relationship between hardness and fracture toughness is not linear. Palmqvist toughness does not change with regard to sintering temperature or the change of Vickers hardness.     

VC添加量对纳米晶硬质合金的制备及性能影响

以钨钴氧化物、炭黑和VC为原料,采用原位还原碳化法制备WC-Co复合粉末,将复合粉末进行放电等离子烧结致密化制备WC-Co硬质合金块体材料。研究了不同VC添加量的复合粉末和块体材料的相组成、显微组织和性能,结果表明:VC的添加量对复合粉末的相组成、合金的晶粒尺寸和性能具有重要的影响,原料中添加2.0%VC(质量分数)时可获得平均晶粒尺寸为101 nm,相组成仅为WC和Co且具有高硬度和良好韧性的硬质合金块体材料。     

Effects of nano-alumina on mechanical properties and wear resistance of WC-8Co cemented carbide by spark plasma sintering

The effects of adding different nano-alumina on the structure, mechanical properties and wear resistance of WC-8Co cemented carbide during spark plasma sintering (SPS sintering) were investigated. The results show that the nano-alumina is dissolved in the Co phase, which results in a larger proportion of FCC-Co in the γ phase on the surface of the WC-Co cemented carbide. Under the scanning electron microscope, it is observed that the grains of cemented carbide are refined, and when the addition amount is 0.5 wt%, the effect of WC grain refinement is the most significan. The hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasingwith nano-alumina added. The peak value is reached when the nano-alumina content is 0.5 wt%, Which means that the alloy has the best combination of mechanical properties, that is, hardness reaches 1716 HV₃₀, bending strength reaches 2728 MPa, and fracture toughness is 12.95 MPa·m^1/2. Adding nano-alumina is beneficial to improve the wear resistance of cemented carbide. As a matter of course, when the content of nano-alumina is 0.5 wt%, the friction coefficient is the lowest, the wear rate is the smallest, and the wear resistance is the best.     

基体碳含量对梯度结构硬质合金微观结构与性能的影响

Co相梯度结构硬质合金与传统硬质合金(WC-Co)相比具有良好的硬度和韧性组合.本文通过固体渗碳烧结处理制备出了Co相梯度结构硬质合金,研究了贫碳量对固体渗碳后硬质合金中Co相梯度结构、力学性能的影响,探索了Co相梯度结构的形成机制.结果表明,贫碳合金碳含量越低,η相体积分数越大,渗碳时需要消耗更多的活性碳原子,渗碳烧...     

WC-Co梯度硬质合金的本构关系及应用

功能梯度硬质合金实现了高硬度与高强度的完美结合. 然而, 由于材料成分及物性的梯度变化使得材料内部的残余热应力影响了产品的性能. 为了分析制备及服役过程中梯度硬质合金中残余应力的影响, 通过定义弹性约束因子和引入塑性约束因子得到了材料的弹塑性本构关系. 将此本构模型结合有限元方法得到了梯度硬质合金内部残余热应力的分布. 数值计算结果表明: 残余热应力主要集中在样品近表面的梯度区. 在富钴区出现了拉应力, 而在表明出现了压应力, 表面最大压应力有380MPa. 同时, 采用X射线衍射法测试了样品的表面应力, 得到的结果是-379.75Mpa. 实验观测与数值模型符合较好.     

碳化帆颗粒尺寸对纳米晶硬质合金组织和性能的影响

利用原位还原碳化反应制备纳米尺度的WC-Co复合粉体,应用放电等离子烧结(SPS)技术制备出纳米晶WC-Co硬质合金块体材料。分析了晶粒长大抑制剂碳化钒(VC)颗粒尺寸对纳米晶硬质合金的显微组织、晶粒尺寸及分布和力学性能的影响。结果表明:当VC的粒径减小到100 nm以下时,利用快速烧结技术可制备得到平均晶粒尺寸约为70 nm的致密WC-Co硬质合金块体材料,其物相纯净,晶粒尺寸分布均匀,维氏硬度为19.84 GPa,断裂韧性达到12.10 MPa·m1/2。     

放电等离子烧结压力对超细WC-Co硬质合金性能的影响

通过分析放电等离子烧结致密化过程,确定了致密化温度;研究了SPS烧结过程中压力对WC-Co硬质合金致密化、显微组织及性能的影响。结果表明,放电等离子烧结粉末在1 130℃时,达到最大收缩率;烧结压力的增加,样品的致密度、硬度增加;断裂韧性的变化集中在11.5~12.1 MPa.m1/2之间,和硬度的变化呈现相反的趋势;烧结压力相对较小时,样品WC晶粒较粗大且不均匀;在40 MPa和55 MPa时,晶粒相对较小且分布均匀。要得到高性能、高致密度的样品,合理的烧结温度在1 200℃以上,烧结压力为40 MPa。     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of 90WC-8Ni-2Mo2C cemented carbide developed by conventional powder metallurgy

In this paper, the microstructure and mechanical properties of a WC-Ni based cemented carbide with the addition of 2 wt% Mo₂C, processed by conventional powder metallurgy, was investigated. With the addition of only Mo₂C in the WC-Ni alloy system, the wettability between the WC and Ni binder phase was improved, which was confirmed by the increased density, hardness, fracture toughness and flexure strength of the cemented carbide obtained, which is superior than those observed in WC-10Ni cemented carbides and similar to those observed in WC-Co and WC-Ni-TiC-Mo₂C cemented carbides. Microstructural examinations of the developed cemented carbide 90WC-8Ni-2Mo₂C indicated that there was no excessive grain growth of the WC particles during sintering, confirming that Mo₂C is a grain growth inhibitor as effective as other carbides such as VC, TiC, Cr₂O₃, showing that the addition of only Mo₂C is able to improve the overall mechanical properties of the WC-Ni alloy system without sacrificing the toughness.     

Processing iron-aluminide composites containing carbides or borides

Iron-aluminide composites containing 30–90 vol. % carbides or borides can be processed to near full density (greater than 97% theoretical density). This wide range of ceramic contents enables the tailoring of the composite properties to a variety of applications requiring a combination of the corrosion and oxidation resistance of iron aluminides and the hardness and wear resistance of the ceramic phases. The composites are processed by conventional liquid-phase sintering of mixed powders as well as pressureless melt infiltration. Typical mechanical properties such as hardness, flexure strength, and fracture toughness were evaluated for composites containing different volume fractions of carbide or boride particulates. Furthermore, evaluations of the wear resistance, oxidation resistance, aqueous corrosion resistance, and thermal expansion of the iron-aluminide composites suggest many potential applications for these new materials.     

The manufacture and characterization of WC-(Al)CoCrCuFeNi cemented carbides with nominally high entropy alloy binders

Recently, there has been increasing interest in cemented tungsten carbide hardmetals and titanium carbonitride cermets with binders of multi-component alloys (≥4 elements) or high entropy alloys (≥5 principal elements in equimolar ratios). Property improvements have been reported, such as increased ambient and elevated temperature hardness, as well as greater oxidation resistance.This study has thoroughly investigated model cemented carbides manufactured using coarse WC with a binder content of 20 wt% (32–37 vol%) from three different (Al)CoCrCuFeNi high entropy alloys (HEAs) and at different carbon levels (low, medium and high).Binder alloys were manufactured by both planetary ball milling of elemental powder mixtures and gas atomizing. Sintering was performed in vacuum for 2 h at different temperatures between 1200 °C and 1500 °C. Post-HIP treatments were also applied in some cases as all systems were difficult to densify without residual porosity.Detailed analyses were performed on the as-manufactured binder alloys, sintered binder alloys (without WC) and the actual sintered cemented carbides (WC + HEA). Various analysis methods were used to examine the materials. These included thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the melting behaviour; X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) to identify the type, crystal structure and exact composition of the phases present; and light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microstructural characterization. Additionally, the hardness and Palmqvist indentation toughness of each composition were also measured.2-Phase WC-HEA microstructures could not be obtained using the investigated high entropy alloys. Several solid solution binder alloys and numerous carbide phases were present after sintering, formed by segregation and reaction. The type and quantity of the phases depend on the carbon balance. For the compositions containing aluminium, it was found that aluminium forms oxides and intermetallic phases during sintering. The paper presents these findings in detail.     

WC – (Cu: AISI304) composites processed from high energy ball milled powders

Alternative binders to cobalt, based on stainless steel (SS, AISI304) and copper were investigated for tungsten carbide (WC) based cemented carbides. The binder content was fixed at 12 wt%, and the Cu:SS ratio varied in proportions of 0:1, 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, 1:0. High energy ball milling was applied to ensure high homogenization, nanometric particle size and mechanical alloying of binder elements in the powders' mixtures. To assess an adequate sintering route, wettability testing and constant heating rate dilatometry in vacuum were performed. The composites were analyzed in terms of their structural, microstructural and mechanical characteristics.The poor wettability of melted Cu on WC surfaces was increased by alloying it with SS and highly dense compacts could be successfully attained at reduced vacuum sintering temperatures with binders having a Cu:SS ratio equal to or lower than 1:2. The microstructures show secondary phases and significant grain coarsening during sintering, whereas the average grain size was kept in the nanometric range. The composites that attained almost full densification present high hardness, comparable to that of nanometric WC-12Co cemented carbides processed by similar routes, but lower toughness values.     

Study of characteristics and properties of spark plasma sintered WC with the use of alternative Fe-Ni-Nb binder as Co replacement

Most of all WC-based cemented carbides use cobalt as binder due to the excellent strength and ductility that this combination provides. Motivators to find alternative binders have been related to factors such as the shortage and price oscillations of the cobalt and toxicity of the WC-Co system. In this work, Fe-Ni-Nb was used as alternative binder for WC sintered via spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The composites were sintered at different sintering temperatures (1100 °C, 1200 °C and 1300 °C). In addition, WC-Co was sintered at 1200 °C via SPS for comparison purposes. X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed as characterization methods to investigate the crystalline phase's formation, sintering effectiveness, porosity and phase distribution. Mechanical properties such as Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, nanohardness, elastic modulus and thermal properties (thermal expansion coefficient) were evaluated. The results demonstrate Fe-Ni-Nb as a viable alternative binder to cobalt in hardmetal applications.