Fabrication of FeAl-WC composite using mechanical alloying

摘要

FeAl-WC composite was proposed as a potentially novel hard metal. FeAl powder was synthesized in a planetary ball mill under an argon atmosphere. Powder mixtures consisting of FeAl and WC powders were dry blended in an automatic agitator. FeAl-0～65vol%WC composites were consolidated by pulse current sintering in a vacuum under the pressure application of 40 MPa. Vickers hardness of the obtained composites increased with increasing WC content and 1075 Hv was obtained for FeAl-50vo1%WC composite. Transverse rupture strength of the composites was measured to be about 1.8MPa up to 30vol%WC and abruptly decreased to 1.1 GPa for more than 50vol% WC. Oxidation test at 1173K exhibited weight gain of FeAl-50vol%WC was a one-seventh as much as that of Co50vo1%WC.