Influence of Fe-Ni-Co binder composition on nitridation of cemented carbides

Nitridation of cemented carbides leads to the formation of wear resistant Ti(C,N)-enriched outer-surfaces (fcc-rich outer-surfaces). In this work the influence of the binder phase composition on the kinetics of formation of fcc-rich outer-surfaces was investigated. Sintered cemented carbides were nitrided at 1200 °C in a 5 bar N₂ atm for 2 and 4 h. The thickness of the nitrided fcc-rich outer-surfaces increases with the addition of Fe to the Co and Ni binders. Correlations between nitrogen diffusion coefficients and nitrogen solubility levels in Fe-Ni-Co systems are investigated to understand the mechanisms governing the formation of graded layers on nitrided cemented carbides with Fe-Ni-Co binders.     

Effect of Mo and Co additions on the microstructure and properties of WC-TiC-Ni cemented carbides

In this work, the effects of 1.0 wt.% additions of Mo and Co on the microstructure and properties of WC-TiC-Ni cemented carbides were investigated using scanning electron microscope, mechanical properties tests, corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance tests. The results show that 1.0 wt.% Mo addition can refine the WC grains and increase the hardness. Moreover, with the addition of minor Mo, the corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance of alloys improved significantly. The addition of 1.0 wt.% Co can inhibit the growth of WC grains, improve the density and hardness slightly, and enhance the abrasion resistance of cemented carbides. However, the minor Co has negative effect for the corrosion resistance.     

Application of a wax-based binder in PIM of WC–TiC–Co cemented carbides

A wax-based binder was developed for powder injection molding of WC–TiC–Co cemented carbides. The critical powder loading and the rheologic behavior of the feedstock were determined. It was found that the critical powder loading could achieve up to 62.5 vol% and the feedstock exhibited a pseudo-plastic flow behavior. The injection molding, debinding and sintering processes were studied. The dimensional deviation of the sintered samples could be controlled in the range of ±0.2% with the optimized processing parameters. The mechanical properties were better than or equivalent to those of the same alloy made by the conventional press-sintering process.     

Influence of microstructure on ultraprecision grinding of cemented carbides

The influence of microstructure on the ultraprecision grinding response of a series of cemented carbides for spherical mirrors was characterized by means of optical and laser interferometry, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Surface roughness, form accuracy, grinding-induced residual stress and material removal behaviors were studied as a function of tungsten carbide (WC) grain size. In connection with the removal mechanisms in ultraprecision grinding, microindentations performed on each material showed similar deformation patterns, all in the plastic regime. The microstructure of WC-Co materials was found to have little influence on the nanometre surface roughness and submicron form accuracy. However, the X-ray stress measurements indicated that the microstructure of carbide materials had a significant influence on the grinding-induced residual stresses; i.e. an increase in grinding-induced residual compressive stress with an decrease in WC grain size. No grinding-induced cracks were observed in the ground cemented carbide surfaces. The material removal in ultraprecision grinding was considered to occur within the ductile regime. The formation of microgrooves and plastic flow regions via slip bands of WC grains along the cobalt binder without visible resultant microfracturing of WC grains were the dominant removal mechanisms.     

Investigations on kinetics of formation of fcc-free surface layers on cemented carbides with Fe-Ni-Co binders

The formation of surface layers free of face centered cubic (Ti,Ta,Nb,W)(C,N) carbonitrides and enriched in ductile binder phase (fcc-free surface layers) was investigated on cemented carbides containing Fe-Ni-Co binders. Cemented carbide alloys with varying Fe-Ni-Co binders were sintered in vacuum atmospheres at 1450 °C for 2, 3 and 5 h. Independent of the binder composition the growth of fcc-free surface layers obeys a parabolic law. For same sintering conditions, fcc-free layer growth kinetics is enhanced by the addition of Fe to Co and Ni binders. Thermodynamic calculations showed that adding Fe to Co and Ni binders increases the solubility of the element nitrogen in the liquid binder phase. The higher solubility of N in Fe-containing binder phases promotes the formation of larger fcc-free surface layers, so that the width of fcc-free surface layers can be modified by controlling the Fe content in the binder phase.     

深冷处理对WC-Co硬质合金组织和性能的影响

对YG8和YG25两种WC-Co硬质合金不同时间深冷处理后的力学性能和疲劳性能进行了研究,利用X射线衍射方法分析了深冷前后合金的相变和残余应力变化,通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观察了材料的断口形貌和断裂方式。结果表明：深冷处理能有效提高了WC-Co硬质合金的硬度、强度、耐磨性和疲劳寿命。深冷处理时间是最主要的工艺参数,对YG8合金来说,2 h为深冷处理最佳工艺时间,而YG25则为8 h。其性能变化的主要原因是深冷处理导致硬质合金表面残余应力的变化和Co粘结相发生马氏体相变。     

Effect of WC particle size on the microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture behavior of WC–(W, Ti, Ta) C–6 wt% Co cemented carbides

This study deals with the microstructure and mechanical properties of WC–(W, Ti, Ta) C–9 vol.% Co cemented carbides fabricated by conventional sintering. The conventional WC particles of 4 μm size and ultrafine particles of 0.2 μm were introduced in the system with varying ratio. The ratios of conventional WC particles to ultrafine WC particles were 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2. The microstructures of sintered WC–(W, Ti, Ta) C–9 vol.% Co cemented carbides were sensitively dependent on the ratio of conventional WC particles to ultrafine WC particles. The rim phase increased with the increase in the amount of ultrafine particles. Hardness of WC–(W, Ti, Ta) C–9 vol.% Co cemented carbide increased with increase in the amount of rim phase and decrease in the average grain size of WC particles. The bending strength showed the similar trend of the hardness. The fracture morphologies are reported. The fracture behavior changed from mixed mode to transgranular fracture mode, when the ratio of conventional WC particles to ultrafine WC particles was changed from 2:1 to 1:2.     

Mechanical properties of WC–10Co cemented carbides sintered from nanocrystalline spray conversion processed powders

Mechanical properties and microstructures of nanocrystalline WC–10Co cemented carbides were investigated. The nanocrystalline WC–10Co cemented carbide powders were manufactured by reduction and carbonization of the nanocrystalline precursor powders which were prepared by spray drying process of solution containing ammonia meta-tungstate (AMT) and cobalt nitrate. The WC powders were about 100 nm in diameter mixed homogeneously with Co binder phase and were sintered at 1375 °C under a pressure of 1 mTorr. In order to compare the microstructures and mechanical properties with those of nanocrystalline WC–10Co, commercial WC powders in a diameter range of 0.57–4 μm were mixed with Co powders, and were sintered at the same conditions as those of nanocrystalline powders. TaC, Cr₃C₂ and VC of varying amount were added into nanocrystalline WC–10Co cemented carbides as grain growth inhibitors. To investigate the microstructure of Co binder phase in the WC–10Co cemented carbides, Co–W–C alloy was fabricated at the temperature of sintering process for the WC–10Co cemented carbides. The hardness of WC–10Co cemented carbides increased with decreasing WC grain size following a Hall–Petch-type relationship. The fracture toughness of WC–10Co cemented carbides increases with increasing HCP/FCC ratio of Co binder phase by HCP/FCC phase transformation.     

WC-Co梯度硬质合金的制备及渗碳对其组织的影响

采用光学金相检测、扫描电镜分析、能谱分析等方法对WC-6Co硬质合金渗碳处理后的成分和梯度组织结构进行分析.结果表明:对硬质合金渗碳处理后可形成显微组织和钨、钴含量的梯度分布,其特征是合金表层和次表层的η相已经完全消失,属正常的WC γ两相组织,合金的芯部依然是含η相的三相组织,中间形成了一个富钴层;碳原子的扩散和液相钴的流动是形成梯度的原因;在各渗碳温度下,合金的梯度结构厚度均随渗碳时间的增加而增加;在渗碳时间和渗碳温度相同的情况下,合金的梯度层厚度均随合金初始总碳含量的增加而增厚.渗碳处理后外表面的WC晶粒可能会产生一定的粗化现象.     

Synthesis and processing of nanocrystalline tungsten carbide: Towards cemented carbides with optimal mechanical properties

Nanocrystalline tungsten carbide has been obtained by reduction/carburization at low temperature from precursors obtained by freeze-drying of aqueous solutions. Nanocrystalline WC powders with a adequate content of carbon were mixed with submicrometric Cobalt powder (12 wt.%), obtained by same synthesis method, and sintered in vacuum furnace. The cemented carbides fabricated from experimental powders were compared with both commercial ultrafine and nanocrystalline WC-12Co mixtures consolidated by the same route. The synthesised powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis and scanning and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. On the other hand, density, microstructure, hardness and fracture toughness together with X-ray diffraction analysis of the sintered materials were evaluated. The cemented carbides obtained from synthesised powders exhibited a WC platelet-based homogeneous microstructure. This anisotropic growth might be due to the presence of stacking faults parallel to the basal plane in the starting WC powder, which would promote the defect-assisted preferential growth. These materials showed excellent mechanical properties, with a superior hardness/fracture toughness combination compared to materials prepared from commercial mixtures.     

Effect of cathodic arc plasma treatment on the properties of WC–Co based hard metals

In this study, ion bombardment in a cathodic arc physical vapor deposition system was applied on WC–Co hard metal surfaces aiming to benefit from the diffusion acceleration effect, and to investigate the role of this effect on the surface composition, morphology and corrosion resistance of the materials. Chromium ions obtained via cathodic arc evaporation were accelerated under low (− 150 V) and high (− 1000 V) bias voltages in order to apply coating–bombardment cycles to sample surfaces. Substrate temperatures were measured by an optical pyrometer during the processes. The treated samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Temperature measurements showed that the sample temperature could be controlled precisely by adjusting the bias voltage. Temperatures in the range of 750–1200 °C were measured during the treatment depending on the duration of the high bias voltage cycles. XRD analysis showed η phase formation in the near surface regions of all treated samples. The amount of the formed η phase was shown to be dependent on the heating–cooling regime that varied with the applied mode of bias. The corrosion behavior of the samples was investigated by immersing treated and untreated samples in a solution of 5% H₃PO₄ containing 1 g/l Zn^{+ 2} for 24 h at 50 °C. The samples were investigated via SEM observations after immersion. Cathodic arc plasma treated samples showed a better resistance to corrosion in this environment.     

Kinetics of formation of graded layers on cemented carbides: Experimental investigations and DICTRA simulations

Kinetics of formation of fcc-free layers on Co-W-Ti-Ta-Nb-C-N cemented carbides was investigated by experimental methods and DICTRA simulations. The layer formation obeys a parabolic law, indicating a diffusion-controlled process. For DICTRA simulations, the influence of the mobilities for all diffusing elements in the liquid binder phase at the sintering temperature was investigated. The best agreement between experimental and simulations was obtained considering that the mobility of all metallic elements is two times slower compared with the mobility of the non-metallic elements.     

TiC含量对微波烧结钢结硬质合金组织及性能影响

以铁粉为基体,TiC颗粒为增强相,通过球磨、压制成型,微波烧结制备出TiC钢结硬质合金。结果表明,在1400℃微波烧结时,TiC颗粒与Fe具有良好的润湿性和流动性。随TiC含量升高,合金的晶粒逐渐变得均匀细小,合金的相对密度、显微硬度和抗弯强度均先升高后下降,相对密度和抗弯强度在TiC含量5%时达到最高值,分别为94.61%和1327.20 MPa,显微硬度在TiC含量10%时达到最高值,为760 HV。随TiC含量增加,钢结硬质合金的断裂方式由韧性断裂向脆性断裂过渡。     

渗碳时间对梯度硬质合金显微组织和抗弯强度的影响

采用预烧结-后续渗碳的方法制备钴相呈梯度分布的硬质合金,通过对试样显微组织的观察和抗弯强度的测试,研究渗碳时间对梯度硬质合金显微组织和抗弯强度的影响。结果表明:试样富钴层钴相含量随渗碳时间的延长而增加,试样的抗弯强度随渗碳时间出现了峰值现象,即当渗碳时间少于140min时,试样的抗弯强度随渗碳时间的增加而增加,在渗碳处理140min时出现最大值,当渗碳160min后,试样的抗弯强度开始下降。分析认为,富钴层中金属钴的良好塑性变形能力能有效地吸收来自外部裂纹扩展的能量,提高合金的抗弯强度,同时当渗碳时间过长时(超过140min),WC与η相晶粒出现了聚集长大,造成钴相分布不均匀,并局部形成Co池,导致试样抗弯强度的下降。对于直径为10mm的矿用梯度球齿,其合理的渗碳时间应控制在120～140min。     

WC-20Co硬质合金钎焊的热处理机理

研究了高频钎焊同时淬火处理对ＷＣ－２０Ｃｏ硬质合金刀片显微结构和性能的影响。结果表明，在１０００－１２００℃温度范围内处理将导致ＷＣ－２０Ｃｏ合金刀片中ＷＣ相邻接度∑ＷＣ－ＷＣ下降，γ相平均自由程Ｌγ增加，韧性改善和硬度提高等一系列淬火效果。断口殂貌微观特征也表明了合金韧性的提高。当处理温度超过１２００℃后，ＷＣ－２０Ｃｏ合金的显微结构和性能将恶化。     

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.     

Properties and microstructure of VC/Cr3C2-doped WC/Co cemented carbides

This paper deals with the effects of codoped VC/Cr3C2 and sintering temperature on the magnetic and mechanical properties of ultra-fine grained WC-12%Co alloys. Results show that the synergistic action of doped VC/Cr3C2 in optimal proportion enhances both the hardness and transverse rupture strength (TRS) of the alloys, with more homogeneous microstructure. When the alloy is sintered at 1430℃ and with 0.5% Cr3C2/0.2% VC, the TRS reaches 3786 MPa, the hardness is 91.7 HRA and the grain size srnaller than 0.6 μm. The numerical analyses on grain growth during the sintering process show that both VC precipitating on the WC grain boundary and Cr3C2 dissolving in the Co phase decrease the solid/liquid interfacial energy γ, the process of dissolution and reprecipitation is greatly retarded and the coarsening of WC grains is inhibited.     

WC－20Co硬质合金钎焊的热处理机理

研究了高频钎焊同时淬火处理对ＷＣ－２０Ｃｏ硬质合金刀片显微结构和性能的影响。结果表明，在１０００～１２００℃温度范围内处理将导致ＷＣ－２０Ｃｏ合金刀片中ＷＣ相邻接度∑ＷＣ－ＷＣ下降、ｒ相平均自由程Ｌ＿ｒ增加、韧性改善和硬度提高等一系列淬火效果。断口形貌微观特征也表明了合金韧性的提高。当处理温度超过１２００℃后，ＷＣ－２０Ｃｏ合金的显微结构和性能将恶化。     

Ni元素扩散行为对硬质合金/钢钎焊接头力学性能及微观组织的影响

本文采用不同含量的Ni元素的钎料对YG15硬质合金与35CrMo钢进行了钎焊,分别研究了Ni元素含量,钎焊温度以及有无超声作用等因素对接头力学性能与微观组织的影响,研究表明钎焊温度为800°C时随钎料中含Ni元素的增加,界面处可获得连续的α-Cu固溶体层,当钎料中Ni元素含量为4.7%时,其接头剪切强度最高,为295MPa。发现钎焊温度将影响Ni元素的扩散行为,从而影响界面处贫Co区的宽度,在温度为730℃时贫Co区宽度最小,其接头剪切强度值也最高,为350MPa。施加超声可以使增加贫Co区宽度,降低共晶组织含量,并使得WC颗粒迁移进入钎缝金属。当超声时间为30s时,贫Co区宽度为17.5μm,接头剪切强度为378MPa,比无超声时接头强度提高6%。     

Effects of carbide size and Co content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of HVOF-sprayed WC-Co coatings

Twelve commercially available WC-Co powders with different average WC grain sizes (0.2, 2, and 6 μm) and cobalt contents (8, 12, 17 and 25 wt.%) were sprayed on carbon steel substrates using High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) spraying process. Hardness, Young's modulus, and fracture toughness of the coatings were measured. While the hardness and Young's modulus decreased with increasing cobalt content from 1600 to 1100 Hv and from 400 to 300 GPa respectively, the fracture toughness remained in the range from 4 to 6 MPam^1/2. The coatings with 2 μm carbide showed lower hardness than those deposited from 0.2 and 6 μm carbide. These measured mechanical properties were discussed with the help of microstructures of the coatings investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. Finally, the hardness of the binder phase in these coatings was estimated to range from 1000 to 1300 Hv by applying the mixture rule for composites to the experimental data, demonstrating that such hardening of the binder phase is a key factor affecting the mechanical properties of the coatings.