INVESTIGATION OF SINTERING OF WC-Co CEMENTED CARBIDE SYSTEMS IN A MAGNETIC FIELD.

The sintering of cemented carbide in a homogeneous and strong magnetic field is a new powder metallurgy technique. Experimental results demonstrate that the method efficiently improves the quality and structure of cemented carbides. A WC-(10-6)%Co alloy sintered in a magnetic field has a bending strength ( sigma //b//b) 20% higher, ratio of oriented WC crystals three items higher, and the beta -Co (f. c. c. ) content ten times higher than in alloys sintered without the use of the magnetic field. Its porosity is less than 0. 02% (vol. ). Substantial changes are observed both in its macro- and microstructure.