abstract
Composite powders of tungsten carbide (WC) and iron rich binder were prepared by an innovative approach, which consists in sputtering of a metallic binder on the tungsten carbide particles. The phase composition, microstructure and mechanical behaviour of WC coated powder composites with binder contents from 6 to 9 wt.% were characterized. eta-Phase is early formed during sintering and its effect on the mechanical behaviour was investigated and related to the microstructure and atomic structure. The results show that the presence of eta-phase has not a hazardous role in toughness as is previewed in conventional cemented carbide. Despite the presence of q-phase, a good compromise between toughness and hardness was attained in composites prepared from iron rich binders sputtered on WC powders. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.
keywords
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE POWDERS; STAINLESS-STEEL; CEMENTED CARBIDES; FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS; PHASE-DIAGRAMS; CO COMPOSITES; HARD METALS; PARTICLES; MICROSTRUCTURE; LOAD
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Femandes, CM; Senos, AMR; Vieira, MT; Fernandes, JV
our authors
Groups
G2 - Photonic, Electronic and Magnetic Materials
G3 - Electrochemical Materials, Interfaces and Coatings
acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Bsc A.M. Jesus for the help in the toughness measurements. The author C.M.F. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the POCTI programme of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and European Social Fund (FSE).