Microstructure and mechanical properties of WC-20wt% Co/ZrO_2(3Y) cermet composites

摘要

The cermet composites WC-20wt%Co/ZrO_2(3Y) with four different contents of ZrO_2(3Y) were prepared by normal vacuum sinter processing; the optical microscope and SEM were used to characterize their microstructures. The hardness, bending strength and impact toughness of the specimens were determined. The experimental results show that ZrO_2(3Y) particles in WC-20wt%Co matrix are spherical particles in different sizes which are distributed uniformly in Co phases and WC phases, the bending strength and impact toughness of the WC-20wt%Co cermet composites added ZrO_2(3Y) improve remarkably, but the hardness values have little change.