Effect of Sintering Temperature and Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Residual Stresses in WC-Co Alloys.

Four series of WC-6Co alloys were investigated. The first was tested after presintering at 700 C; the second after sintering 1 hr in argon at 1450 C and furnace cooling; the third after sintering 1 hr in argon at 1240, 1340, 1440, 1550, and 1590 C and quenching; the fourth after rapid sintering at 1450 C in vacuum and quenching. The effects of the different treatments was studied by x-ray analysis and by hardness and coercive force measurements. The results are analyzed in terms of skeleton formation, formation of compressive stresses in the carbide phase, and mechanical properties.