Advances in alloy design aspects of cemented carbides

This study describes the alloy design approaches for processing high-performance hard metals for metal cutting and mining applications. In fine-grained hardmetals for metal-cutting applications, combined addition of VC and Cr3C2 in optimal proportion as grain-growth inhibitors enhances both the hardness as well as indentation fracture toughness. In addition, the synergistic action of these grain-growth inhibitors also results in a more homogeneous microstructure. Consequently, the variation in the mechanical properties of these fine-grained hardmetals is reduced. This research also highlights the influence of carbon on the transverse rupture strength and toughness of the mining and fine-grained hard metals. A lower carbon in the two-phase WC + Co region of the hardmetal microstructure results in higher fracture toughness and transverse rupture strength without compromising the hardness. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.