Authors:
Hossein Besharatloo (1,2,3), Ahmed-Ameur Zegai (4), Saghar Fooladimahani (1), Caterina Chirico (3), Luis Llanes (1), Begoña Ferrari (3), Antonio Javier Sanchez-Herencia (3)
1- CIEFMA/CMEM/EEBE – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
2- COLFEED4PRINT, Madrid, Spain
3- ICV-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
4- Laboratory of Materials Sciences and Engineering (LSGM), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria
Abstract:
The powder composition and sintering process significantly influence the microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of WC-based composites. The precise control of both chemical composition and sintering conditions is crucial for tailoring these materials to meet specific requirements across diverse applications, such as cutting tools, wear-resistant components, and various industrial uses. The study comprehensively assesses: I) the impact of varying nickel content, and II) the influence of sintering methods, including conventional and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), on the final microstructures and mechanical properties of the WC/Ni composites. In doing so, two sets of WC/Ni composites (containing 5 and 10 vol% Ni) were sintered using SPS and conventional methods. The microstructural analysis included FESEM and XRD, while mechanical properties were evaluated at different length scales including Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness. This detailed examination contributes valuable insights for enhancing the microstructural design of WC/Ni composites.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59499/EP246281827
