The effect of heating rate and sintering time on properties of WC-6Co nanocrystalline composites produced by spark plasma sintering

Dariusz Garbiec, Piotr Siwak, Jarosław Jakubowicz

Quarterly No. 1, 2015 pages 48-53

DOI:

keywords: spark plasma sintering, composite material, WC-Co

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abstract For the production of composite materials WC-6Co, the spark plasma sintering method was used. As a result of rapid heating and a short sintering time, materials were obtained with a density close to the theoretical value. The resulting sintered materials were measured for density and hardness. The values of the critical stress intensity factor K_Ic and modulus of elasticity were set. SEM and AFM observations were carried out. On the basis of X-ray diffractometers analyses, the size of WC and Co crystallites were estimated, whose sizes are less than 50 nm. It was shown that the rate of heating to the sintering temperature significantly affects the sintered microstructure and consequently their mechanical properties. All the sinters are characterized by a K_Ic above 11.5 MPa•m^1/2. The hardest of the obtained materials (1842 HV₃0) was sintered at a heating rate of 600°C/min for 5 min.