Fabrication and mechanical properties of WC-Co-Al_2O_3 nanocomposites by spark plasma sintering

Small amounts of nanocrystalline Al2O3 particles were doped in WC-Co nanocrystalline powders to study their reinforcing effects, and spark plasma sintering technique was used to fabricate the WC-Co-Al2O3 nanocomposites. Experimental results show that the use of Al2O3 nanoparticles as dispersions to reinforce WC-Co composites can increase the hardness, especially the transverse rupture strength of the WC-Co hardmetal. With addition of （0.5%）（mass fraction） Al2O3 nanoparticles, the spark plasma sintered WC-7Co-0.5Al2O3 nanocomposites exhibit hardness of 21.22 GPa and transverse rupture strength of 3 548 MPa. The fracture surface of the WC-7Co-（0.5Al2O3） nanocomposites mainly fracture with transcrystalline rupture mode. The reinforcing mechanism is maybe related to the hindrance effect of microcracks propagation and the pinning effect for the dislocations movement, as well as the residual compressive strength due to the Al2O3 nanoparticles doped.