The widespread use of WC-based hard materials as cutting, machining, and wear-resistant materials is primarily due to their unique combination of desirable properties such as high hardness, strength, resistance to compressive deformation. This study investigates how the ZrSiO₄ additive affects WC-based hard materials fabricated by a spark plasma sintering, i.e., WC-ZrSiO₄, WC-Co-ZrSiO₄, and WC-Fe-ZrSiO₄. The purpose of the study is the fabrication of novel cemented carbide consisting of WC-Zircon composite that gives a clear advantage compared to conventional hard materials, i.e., WC-Co and WC-Fe, in terms of cost and strengthened hardness. After being planetary ball milled to refined powder, the compact WC-X (X: metallic binder, Co and Fe) and WC-Y (Y: Zircon, ZrSiO₄) composites were consolidated at different temperatures in established composition ratios. Densification of the composites was found to depend on their microstructural evolution according to whether dissociation/transformation of zircon occurred and so inter-diffusion of binders. To investigate mechanical properties (hardness, fracture toughness, and transverse rupture strength) were measured in light of each material distribution of additives and grain size

Keywords: WC-based hard materials, Zircon, Spark plasma sintering, Mircostructural evolution, Mechanical properties