In this study, ultrafine WC@10Co powders were used for the fabrication of coarse-grained WC-10Co with almost full densification. The incorporation of WC@10Co resulted in a decreasing size of WC grain with a rounded shape, the mean free path of Co and the WC contiguity. Further, substantial Co with face-centered cubic structure dispersed uniformly in the cemented carbides with WC@10Co-contained intergranular fracture accompanied by a large number of plastic deformation tears of the Co phase at the fracture surface and crack bridges at the crack tip. Therefore, the hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength of cemented carbides with WC@10Co reached the highest levels of 1045.3 kgf m−2, 23.6 MPa·m1/2 and 2308 MPa, respectively.
HIGHLIGHTS
The ultrafine WC@10Co contracted size distribution of WC grain with a rounded shape.
The uniformly dispersed Co with a high content of FCC structure was obtained.
The as-obtained coarse-grained cemented carbides showed enhanced mechanical properties
RenXMiaoHPengZ.A review of cemented carbides for rock drilling: an old but still tough challenge in geo-engineering. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2013;39:61–77.
2.
TorresYTarragoJMCoureauxDFracture and fatigue of rock bit cemented carbides: mechanics and mechanisms of crack growth resistance under monotonic and cyclic loading. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2014;45:179–188.
3.
GarcíaJCollado CiprésVBlomqvistACemented carbide microstructures: a review. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2019;80:40–68.
4.
MannessonKJeppssonJBorgenstamACarbide grain growth in cemented carbides. Acta Mater2011;59(5):1912–1923.
5.
HewittS AKibbleK A.Effects of ball milling time on the synthesis and consolidation of nanostructured WC–Co composites. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2009;27(6):937–948.
6.
SuWSunYWangHPreparation and sintering of WC–Co composite powders for coarse grained WC–8Co hardmetals. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2014;45:80–85.
7.
SuWHuangZRenXInvestigation on morphology evolution of coarse grained WC–6Co cemented carbides fabricated by ball milling route and hydrogen reduction route. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2016;56:110–117.
8.
LiuXFengHHouCPerformance enhancement of ultra-coarse cemented carbide by boride additives. J Alloys Compd2020;835:155250.
9.
YangQYangJYangHThe effects of fine WC contents and temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of inhomogeneous WC-(fine WC-Co) cemented carbides. Ceram Int2016;42(16):18100–18107.
10.
LiuCLinNHeYThe effects of micron WC contents on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ultrafine WC–(micron WC–Co) cemented carbides. J Alloys Compd2014;594:76–81.
11.
LuZDuJSunYEffect of ultrafine WC contents on the microstructures, mechanical properties and wear resistances of regenerated coarse grained WC-10Co cemented carbides. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2021;97:105516.
12.
HeRLiBOuPEffects of ultrafine WC on the densification behavior and microstructural evolution of coarse-grained WC-5Co cemented carbides. Ceram Int2020;46(8):12852–12860.
DingQZhengYKeZEffects of fine WC particle size on the microstructure and mechanical properties of WC-8Co cemented carbides with dual-scale and dual-morphology WC grains. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2020;87:105166.
15.
HeRYangQLiBGrain growth behaviour and mechanical properties of coarse-grained cemented carbides with bimodal grain size distributions. Mater Sci Eng A. 2021;805:140586.
16.
ZhangLWangZChenSBinder phase strengthening of WC–Co alloy through post-sintering treatment. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2015;50:31–36.
17.
KonyashinIRiesBLachmannFHardmetals with nanograin reinforced binder: binder fine structure and hardness. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2008;26(6):583–588.
18.
PadmakumarMGuruprasathJAchuthanPInvestigation of phase structure of cobalt and its effect in WC–Co cemented carbides before and after deep cryogenic treatment. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2018;74:87–92.
19.
SuWSunYFengJInfluences of the preparation methods of WC–Co powders on the sintering and microstructure of coarse grained WC–8Co hardmetals. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2015;48:369–375.
20.
MinFYuSWangSPreparation and properties of Ni-coated WC powder and highly impact resistant and corrosion resistant WC-Ni cemented carbides. T Nonferr Metal Soc.2022;32:1949–1961.
21.
DynysF WHalloranJ W.Influence of aggregates on sintering. J Am Ceram Soc1984;67(9):596–601.
22.
FangZ Z.Correlation of transverse rupture strength of WC–Co with hardness. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2005;23(2):119–127.
23.
YuSMinFYingGThe grain growth and boundary evolution of extra-coarse-grained cemented carbides by pressureless sintering of ball-milling-mixed WC with Co at different temperature. Mater Charact2021;180:111386.
24.
SaitoHIwabuchiAShimizuT.Effects of Co content and WC grain size on wear of WC cemented carbide. Wear. 2006;261(2):126–132.
25.
LuyckxSLoveA D.Empirical quantitative relationships among grain size, mean free path, contiguity and cobalt content in WC-Co hardmetal. Trans R Soc S Afr. 2003;58(2):145–148.
26.
LuyckxSLoveA.The dependence of the contiguity of WC on Co content and its independence from WC grain size in WC–Co alloys. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2006;24(1–2):75–79.
27.
XieCHuangJTangYEffects of deep cryogenic treatment on microstructure and properties of WC–11Co cemented carbides with various carbon contents. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China2015;25(9):3023–3028.
28.
MarshallJ MKusoffskyA.Binder phase structure in fine and coarse WC–Co hard metals with Cr and V carbide additions. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater2013;40:27–35.
29.
KangM KKimD YHwangN M.Ostwald ripening kinetics of angular grains dispersed in a liquid phase by two-dimensional nucleation and abnormal grain growth. J Eur Ceram Soc. 2002;22(5):603–612.
30.
EizadjouMChenHCzettlCAn observation of the binder microstructure in WC-(Co+Ru) cemented carbides using transmission Kikuchi diffraction. Scr Mater2020;183:55–60.
31.
HuaTGuoZJingKResidual stress evolution enhanced martensite phase transition and texture development in cryogenic-tempered WC-Co ultra-coarse grained cemented carbide. Mater Sci Eng A2022;834:142592.
32.
GaoYYanMLuoBEffects of NbC additions on the microstructure and properties of non-uniform structure WC-Co cemented carbides. Mater Sci Eng A. 2017;687:259–268.
33.
ZhouWXiongJWanWThe effect of NbC on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of WC–10Co cemented carbides. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2015;50:72–78.
34.
TarragóJ MCoureauxDTorresYMicrostructural effects on the R-curve behavior of WC-Co cemented carbides. Mater Des. 2016;97:492–501.
35.
LiuKWangZYinZEffect of Co content on microstructure and mechanical properties of ultrafine grained WC-Co cemented carbide sintered by spark plasma sintering. Ceram Int. 2018;44(15):18711–18718.
36.
TarragóJ MJiménez-PiquéESchneiderLFIB/FESEM experimental and analytical assessment of R-curve behavior of WC–Co cemented carbides. Mater Sci Eng A. 2015;645:142–149.
37.
TarragóJ MCoureauxDTorresYStrength and reliability of WC-Co cemented carbides: understanding microstructural effects on the basis of R-curve behavior and fractography. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2018;71:221–226.
38.
SunYSuWYangHEffects of WC particle size on sintering behavior and mechanical properties of coarse grained WC–8Co cemented carbides fabricated by unmilled composite powders. Ceram Int. 2015;41(10):14482–14491.
39.
ShatovA VPonomarevS SFirstovS A.Fracture of WC–Ni cemented carbides with different shape of WC crystals. Int J Refract Met Hard Mater. 2008;26(2):68–76.
