Articles
  • Consolidation of ultra fine WC-Co hard materials by a spark plasma sintering method and their mechanical properties
  • Hyun-Kuk Parka, Hee-Jun Youna, Seung-Min Leea, Hee-Seon Bangb and Ik-Hyun Oha,*
  • a Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), 1110-9 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwang-ju, Korea b Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Chosun University, 375, Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-759, Korea
Abstract
Using the spark plasma sintering method, WC-6 wt.%Co hard materials were densified using an ultra fine WC-Co powder. The WC-Co was almost completely dense with a relative density of up to 100% after the simultaneous application of a pressure of 60MPa and an electric current for 12 minutes without any significant change in the grain size. The average grain size of WC that was produced through SPS was about 270 nm. The hardness and fracture toughness of the dense WC-Co composites were also investigated.

Keywords: Spark plasma sintering, WC-Co, Hard material, Sintering, Rapid sintering, Mechanical properties.

This Article

  • 2011; 12(3): 304-309

    Published on Jun 30, 2011