Novel WC Hardmetal with Cr/Fe Binder Alloy Sintered by SPS

摘要

Traditional hardmetals are composed by a large volume fraction of tungsten monocarbide particles embedded in a tough cobalt matrix, providing outstanding mechanical properties. In the last decades, other matrices have been investigated to improve the oxidation and corrosion resistance. Among the need to improve these properties for the cutting-drilling tool industry, the substitution of Co or Ni is becoming a key-point since Co-WC hardmetals and Ni compounds were included in the "13th report on Carcinogens on October 2014" as probable human carcinogens. This work opens a new way involving the development of an innovative hardmetal with a Cr/Fe-based metallic matrix. Thus, in this study a novel WC-CrFe hardmetal with promising properties is developed by mechanical alloying (MA) of the powders and consolidation by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS).