Phase composition, transition and structure stability of functionally graded cemented carbide with dual phase structure

The phase composition, phase transition and phase structure transformation of the wire-cut section of functionally graded WC-Co cemented carbide with dual phase structure were investigated by XRD phase analysis. It is shown that the composition of η phase in the core zone is Co_3W_3C (M_6 C type). The structure of cobalt based solid solution binder phase is fcc type. At the cooling stage of the sintering process, the phase transition of η phase, i.e. M_6C→M_12C and the martensitic phase transition of the cobalt based solid solution binder phase, i.e. fcc→hcp are suppressed, which facilitates the strengthening of the alloy. Because the instantaneous temperature of the discharge channel is as high as 10 000 ℃ during the wire cutting process, the processed surface is oxidized. Nevertheless, the oxide layer thickness is in micro grade. In the oxide film, η phase is decomposed into W_2C and CoO, and cobalt based solid solution binder is selectively oxidized, while WC remains stable due to the existence of carbon containing liquid organic cutting medium.