Development of a database for cemented carbides: Thermodynamic modeling and experiments

A new database, for thermodynamic information for cemented carbides has been developed. A full description of the alloy system C-Co-N-Nb-Ta-Ti-W is presented. The work has involved both thermodynamic evaluations of lower order systems and experimental investigations. Full new assessments of the quaternary Ti-W-C-N, Ta-W-C-N, and Nb-W-C-N systems have been performed, including tests of the influence of model parameters on miscibility gaps in higher order systems. A new improved description of the Co-W-C system based on new experiments is used in the present work. The main results of the experimental work are measurements of the composition of the cubic carbide in selected equilibria; measurements of the temperatures of the liq + fcc + WC + gr. and liq + fcc + WC + M6C equilibria in the Co-W-C and Co-W-X-C (X = Ti, Ta, Nb) systems; and measurements of the solubility of Ti, Ta, and Nb in liquid in multicomponent alloys. The results of the assessments have been implemented into a new database. The database has successfully been used in a parallel project to simulate the formation of gamma -phase free zones in cemented carbides. A few other applications of industrial relevance are presented.