Heating effects in WC-Co cemented carbides as a result of reciprocative dry sliding friction

摘要

WC-Co based cemented carbides are widely used in technical applications, in which they are exposed to complex thermo-mechanical loadings. Previous research work has demonstrated that these materials exhibit a lifetime-limiting fatigue sensitivity at room temperature. This investigation is focused on the influence of heating as a result of friction of pin-on-plate tribocouples. WC-Co samples have been manufactured and surface finished by wire-EDM and grinding. Reciprocative dry friction experiments are performed under various loading conditions and sliding velocities. Correlations are established between the bulk temperature rise of the test samples and the imposed test conditions, material properties, surface conditions and coefficient of friction. Topographies and cross-section views of the tested samples were examined by SEM, revealing temperature dependent wear mechanisms, including binder phase modification.