WC-base cemented carbides with partial and total substitution of Co as binder: Evaluation of mechanical response by means of uniaxial compression of micropillars

The influence of the chemical nature of the metallic binder on the plastic deformation of cemented carbides was studied. Three different cemented carbide grades - WC-Co, WC-CoNi and WC-NiMo - with similar microstructural characteristics (binder content and carbide grain size) were investigated. Mech...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Sandoval Ravotti, Daniela Andreina|||0000-0002-4743-475X, Rinaldi, Antonio, Notargiacomo, A., Ther, O, Roa Rovira, Joan Josep|||0000-0002-7440-0766, Llanes Pitarch, Luis Miguel|||0000-0003-1054-1073
Format: article
Publication Date:2019
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/177400
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/177400
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2019.105027
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Materials -- Mechanical properties
Cemented carbides
Micromechanical testing
Uniaxial compression of micropillars
TEM
Plastic deformation
Materials -- Propietats mecàniques
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria dels materials::Metal·lúrgia
Description
Summary:The influence of the chemical nature of the metallic binder on the plastic deformation of cemented carbides was studied. Three different cemented carbide grades - WC-Co, WC-CoNi and WC-NiMo - with similar microstructural characteristics (binder content and carbide grain size) were investigated. Mechanical response was evaluated by means of uniaxial compression of micropillars, and tests were carried out in-situ in a FESEM with a nanoindenter equipped with a flat-diamond punch. After uniaxial compression, inspection of deformation phenomena was done at both surface and bulk of micropillars through scanning and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. It is found that yielding phenomena and strain hardening increase as Co is totally substituted by a NiMo alloy, while contrary effect results from partial replacement of Co with Ni. Relative differences are directly linked to intrinsic ductility of the metallic phase and operative plastic deformation mechanisms. Moreover, for the three materials studied, stress-strain responses show pronounced yielding events related to glide at WC/WC interfaces. Although they are discerned at different stress levels, estimated values of sliding resistance of WC/WC boundaries are found to be alike for the three grades studied.