Fabrication and performance of graded ultrafine WC–Co cemented carbide tool by one/two-step spark plasma sintering

The present study investigates the high temperature tribological performance of spark plasma sintered, nano- and micron-sized tungsten carbide (WC) bonded by 9 wt.% cobalt (Co). The composites were fabricated using a two-step procedure of mixing followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Ball-on-disc wear tests were conducted at a normal load of 30 N, linear speed of 0.1 m/s under dry conditions and at three different temperatures (room temperature, 300 °C and 600 °C). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), optical profilometry and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) spectroscopy were used to analyze the surface morphology and the wear track area. At room temperature, it was observed that the nano-sized WC composites exhibited better wear resistance than the micron-sized WC composites. The wear resistance of the nano-sized samples declined significantly relative to that of the micron-sized samples with an increase in temperature. This decline in performance was attributed to the higher surface area of nano-sized WC particles, which underwent rapid oxidation at elevated temperatures, resulting in poor wear resistance. The wear rate observed at 600 °C for the micron-sized WC composites was 75% lower than that of the nano-sized cemented carbide. Oxidative wear was observed to be the predominant wear mechanism for both cemented carbide samples at elevated temperatures.

Download Full-text

Research On Preparation Of Nano-Grained Cemented Carbide By Spark Plasma Sintering

Materials Research Innovations ◽

10.1080/14328917.2005.11784906 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 82-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xie Yingfang ◽

Wang Xingqing ◽

Chen Lidong ◽

Li Xiaodong ◽

Guo Hailiang

Keyword(s):

Spark Plasma Sintering ◽

Cemented Carbide ◽

Plasma Sintering ◽

Spark Plasma

Download Full-text

Consolidation and properties of ultrafine binderless cemented carbide by spark plasma sintering

Rare Metals ◽

10.1016/s1001-0521(08)60137-0 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 320-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

X LIU ◽

T LIN ◽

H SHAO ◽

Z GUO ◽

J LUO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spark Plasma Sintering ◽

Cemented Carbide ◽

Plasma Sintering ◽

Spark Plasma

Download Full-text

Consolidation of Ultrafine Binderless Cemented Carbide by Spark Plasma Sintering

Journal of Iron and Steel Research International ◽

10.1016/s1006-706x(08)60056-4 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 82-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Xiang-qing LIU ◽

Tao LIN ◽

Zhi-meng GUO ◽

Feng-e CUI ◽

Ji LUO

Keyword(s):

Spark Plasma Sintering ◽

Cemented Carbide ◽

Plasma Sintering ◽

Spark Plasma

Download Full-text

Two-Step Spark Plasma Sintering Process of Ultrafine Grained WC-12Co-0.2VC Cemented Carbide

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma12152443 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (15) ◽

pp. 2443 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhenhua Wang ◽

Jiheng Jia ◽

Boxiang Wang ◽

Yulin Wang

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Relative Density ◽

Spark Plasma Sintering ◽

Average Particle Size ◽

Cemented Carbide ◽

Cemented Carbides ◽

Average Particle ◽

Plasma Sintering ◽

Ultrafine Grained ◽

Spark Plasma

Ultrafine grained WC-12Co-0.2VC (named UYG12V) cemented carbides were prepared via the two-step spark plasma sintering (SPS) in this study. First, the effects of the sintering temperature on the relative density and WC grain size of UYG12V cemented carbides were studied. The results show that regular WC grains form when sintered at 1300 °C. The sintered body begins to rapidly densify and WC grains grow slowly when sintered at 1200 °C. Thus, the first-step (T1) and the second-step (T2) temperatures in the two-step SPS of UYG12V are 1300 °C and 1200 °C, respectively. The effect of the holding time during the first and second steps on the mechanical properties was also studied. The results show that the UYG12V cemented carbide sintered at 1300 °C for 3 min and then at 1200 °C for 5 min has the best comprehensive mechanical properties, exhibiting the average particle size, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, relative density, and bending strength of 271 nm, 18.06 GPa, 12.25 MPa m1/2, 99.49%, and 1960 MPa, respectively.

Download Full-text