Effects of Powder Microscopic Defects on Densification and Mechanical Properties of WC via Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract:

The WC composite powder was synthesized by a new specific chemical activation technique. A large number of lattice defects such as surface humps, dislocations and stacking fault exist in the surface of the WC powder after chemical activation technique. By using such activated WC powder, the binderless WC cemented carbide with high density (15.54 g/cm³), super hardness (average 26.29 GPa) and excellent fracture toughness (8.9 MPa.m^1/2) can be fabricated by SPS at 1700 °C and 50 MPa pressure. The improvement in density, hardness and fracture toughness are respectively 4.5%, 15.3% and 17.1% compared to when using the original WC powder. This improvement is because microscopic defects on the surface of the WC powder can greatly improve surface free energy of the powder, which improves the sintering activity and reduces the sintering temperature of the WC powder.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1016)
• Pages: 1770-1777
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.1016.1770
• Online since: January 2021
• Authors: Liu Zhu*, Jin Fang Wang, Zhi Biao Tu, Na Xue, Wei Wei Li
• Keywords: Binderless Cemented Carbide, Microscopic Defects, Spark Plasma Sintering, Tungsten Carbide

References

[1] J.H. Lee, I.H. Oh, J.H. Jang, S.K. Hong, H.K. Park, Mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of WC binderless and WC-Co hard materials by the heat treatment process, J. Alloys Compd. 786(2019) 1-10.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.01.282

[2] K.Kornaus, M.Raczka, A.Gubernat, D.Zientara, Pressureless sintering of binderless tungsten carbide, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 37(2017) 4567-4576.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2017.06.008

[3] W. Tang, L. Zhang, Y. Chen, H.D. Zhang, L. Zhou, Corrosion and strength degradation behaviors of binderless WC material and WC-Co hardmetal in alkaline solution: A comparative investigation, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 68 (2017) 1–8.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2017.06.003

[4] J. Poteschke, V. Richter, A. Michaelis, Fundamentals of sintering nano scaled binderless hardmetals, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 49(2015) 124-132.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2014.04.022

[5] Y.F. Zhang, Z. Kou, Z.W. Wang, M. Yang, J.R. Lu, H. Liang, S.X. Guan, Q.W. Hu, H.X. Gong, D.W.He, Magic high-pressure strengthening in tungsten carbide system, Ceram. Int. 45 (2019) 8721-8725.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.01.195

[6] W. Tang, L. Zhang, J.F. Zhu, Y. Chen, W.Tian, T. Liu, Effect of direct current patterns on densification and mechanical properties of binderless tungsten carbides fabricated by the spark plasma sintering system,Int. J. Refract.Met.Hard Mater.64 (2017) 90–97.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2017.01.010

[7] D.Demirskyi, A.Ragulya, D.Agrawal, Initial stage sintering of binderless tungsten carbide powder under microwave radiation, Ceram. Int. 37(2011) 505–512.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2010.09.036

[8] I.Hussainova, A. Smirnov, M. Antonov, Mechanical characterization and wear performance of WC-ZrO2–Ni cermets produced by hot isostatic pressing,Adv. Mater. Res. 214 (2011) 344–348.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.214.344

[9] L.Girardini, M. Zadra, F. Casari, A. Molinari, SPS, binderless WC powders, and the problem of sub carbide,Met. Powder Rep. 63 (2008) 18–22.

DOI: 10.1016/s0026-0657(09)70039-6

[10] K. Luo, Q. Chen, Y.X. Cai, Ultrafine binderless tungsten carbide prepared by spark plasma sintering process, Mater. Res. Appl. 4 (2010) 534-537.

[11] H.C. Kim, I.J. Shon, J.K. Yoon, J.M. Doh, Consolidation of ultra-fine WC and WC-Co hard materials by pulsed current activated sintering and its mechanical properties, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater.25 (2007) 46-52.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2005.11.004

[12] I.J. Shon, B.R. Kim, J.M. Doh, J.K. Yoon, K.D. Woo, Properties and rapid consolidation of ultra-hard tungsten carbide, J. Alloys Compd. 489 (2010) 4-8.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2009.09.040

[13] X.J. Xia, X.Q. Li, J.M. Li, D.H. Zheng, Microstructure and characterization of WC-2.8 wt% Al2O3-6.8 wt% ZrO2 composites produced by spark plasma sintering, Ceram. Int. 42 (2016) 14182–14188.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.06.044

[14] B.W. Kwak, J.H. Song, B.S. Kim, I.J. Shon, Mechanical properties and rapid sintering of nanostructured WC and WC–TiAl3 hard materials by the pulsed current activated heating, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater.54 (2016) 244–250.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2015.08.003

[15] A. Nino, Y.Izu, T.Sekine, S.Sugiyama, H.Taimatsu, Effects of ZrC and SiC addition on the microstructures and mechanical properties of binderless WC,Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater.69 (2017) 259–265.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2017.09.002

[16] T. Cao, X.Q. Li, J.M. Li, M.N. Zhang, H.Qiu, Effect of sintering temperature on phase constitution and mechanical properties of WC-1.0 wt% carbon nanotube composites, Ceram. Int. 44 (2018) 164-169.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.09.154

[17] J. Pötschke, T. Gestrich, V. Richter, Grain growth inhibition of hardmetals during initial heat-up,Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater.72 (2018) 117–125.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2017.12.016

[18] H.H. Nersisyan, H.I. Won, C.W. Won, J.H. Lee, Study of the combustion synthesis process of nanostructured WC and WC–Co, Mater. Chem. Phys.94 (2005) 153–158.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2005.04.024

[19] T.S. Srivatsan, R. Woods, M.Petraroli, T.S. Sudarshan, An investigation of the influence of powder particle size on microstructure and hardness of bulk samples of tungsten carbide, Powder Technol. 122 (2002) 54-66.

DOI: 10.1016/s0032-5910(01)00391-6

[20] S.I. Cha, S.H. Hong, Microstructure of binderless tungsten carbide sintered by spark plasma sintering process,Mater. Sci. Eng. A. 356 (2003) 381-389.

DOI: 10.1016/s0921-5093(03)00151-5

[21] X.Q. Liu, T. Lin, Z.M. Guo, F.E. Cui, J. Guo, Consolidation of ultrafine binderless cemented carbide by spark plasma sintering, J. Iron Steel Res. Int. 14 (2007) 82-84.

DOI: 10.1016/s1006-706x(08)60056-4

[22] B. Huang, L.D. Chen, S.Q. Bai, Bulk ultrafine binderless WC prepared by spark plasma sintering, Scr. Mater. 54 (2006) 441-445.

DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2005.10.014

[23] L.M. Luo, Y.C. Wu, J. Li, Y.C. Zheng, Preparation of nickel-coated tungsten carbide powders by room temperature ultrasonic-assisted electroless plating, Surf. Coat. Technol. 206 (2011) 1091-1095.

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2011.07.078

[24] F. Xue, L. Zhu, J.F. Wang, Z.B. Tu, Catalytic role of surface pre-treatment of noble-metal-like tungsten carbide powder on electroless deposition of nickel, Surf. Coat. Technol. 265 (2015) 32-37.

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2015.01.066

[25] J. Poetschke, V. Richter, T. Gestrich, A.Michaelis, Grain growth during sintering of tungsten carbide ceramics, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater.43 (2014) 309-316.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2014.01.001

[26] D.K. Shetty, I.G. Wright, P.N. Mincer, A.H. Clauer, Indentation fracture of WC–Co cermets, J. Mater. Sci. 20 (1985) 1873–1882.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00555296

[27] J. Gubicza, G. Ribárik, G.R. Goren-Muginstein, A.R. Rosen,T. Ungár, The density and the character of dislocations in cubic and hexagonal polycrystals determined by X-ray diffraction. Mater. Sci. Eng. A. 309-310 (2001) 60-63.

DOI: 10.1016/s0921-5093(00)01666-x