Cemented Carbides Based on Tungsten Carbide

Cemented carbides are sintered materials consisting of very hard and high melting point metal carbides in a matrix of low melting point bonding metals of the iron group, particularly cobalt. 

The most important property of tungsten carbide in its utilization in cemented carbides is its ability to dissolve partially in compressed powder mixtures of WC and ferrous metals, particularly cobalt, at 1300 to 1500°C. In the case of sintering with a liquid phase, WC partly crystallizes out of the binder phase of the WC-Co-alloy upon cooling. It becomes embedded in the tough but hard (not brittle) binder phase. 

The chemical composition and applications of the different qualities of tungsten carbide-containing cemented carbides are summarized in Table 5.6-2. 

In the manufacture of cemented carbide the oxygen content should be minimized. Manufactured by  

K-quality WC-Co 88 to 96 cutting tools for short-chip materials, drilling plates for impact stress applications 

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