Three observation methods were used to investigate the existing form and the behavior of rare earth during the sintering process of high activity mischmetal (RE, with lanthanum and cerium) doped WC-8%Co-0.048%RE(mass fraction) alloy with low carbon-containing level by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), considering the fact that the addition amount of rare earth in the alloy is very minute. The directional migration process and mechanism of cerium were discussed. First, the sinter skin (surface) is observed. It is shown that there exists a dispersedly distributed cerium containing oxide on the sinter skin, and lanthanum in these cerium enrichment positions is very minute. Secondly, the polished section is observed, and lanthanum containing phase/micro-zone in the alloy is identified. Finally, based on the fact that the fracture of cemented carbide is resulted from the heterogeneous phase or other defects within the microstructure, the fracture surface is observed and cerium containing phase/micro-zone in the fracture source approximately 260 μm from the surface is identified. These combined observations reveal adequately the fact that lanthanum and cerium get separated and cerium predominantly migrates towards the surface during the sintering process.
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