Spark plasma sintering was successfully used to produce WC-Co cermets with the addition of Cr3C2and TaC grain growth inhibitors. The spark plasma sintered compacts were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-...Spark plasma sintering was successfully used to produce WC-Co cermets with the addition of Cr3C2and TaC grain growth inhibitors. The spark plasma sintered compacts were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, density measurements, hardness tests, fracture toughness tests and elastic modulus tests. The results were comparedwithan inhibitor-free WC-Co cermet consolidated under the same process parameters. By using Cr3C2and TaC additives, it is possible to improve the hardness and fracture toughness of WC-Co cermets, but Cr3C2has better grain growth inhibition propertythan that of TaC. The best combination of hardness （HV30（2105±38）） and fracture toughness （（8.3±0.2）MPa·m^1/2） was obtained by the WC-5Co-2Cr3C2 cermet.展开更多
文摘Spark plasma sintering was successfully used to produce WC-Co cermets with the addition of Cr3C2and TaC grain growth inhibitors. The spark plasma sintered compacts were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, density measurements, hardness tests, fracture toughness tests and elastic modulus tests. The results were comparedwithan inhibitor-free WC-Co cermet consolidated under the same process parameters. By using Cr3C2and TaC additives, it is possible to improve the hardness and fracture toughness of WC-Co cermets, but Cr3C2has better grain growth inhibition propertythan that of TaC. The best combination of hardness （HV30（2105±38）） and fracture toughness （（8.3±0.2）MPa·m^1/2） was obtained by the WC-5Co-2Cr3C2 cermet.
