Properties and rapid consolidation of nanostructured WC and WC-10 vol.% TiAl3 hard materials by the high frequency induction heating

In the case of cemented WC, Ni or Co is added as a binder for the formation of composite structures. However, the high cost and the low hardness of Ni or Co, and the low corrosion resistance of the WC-Ni and WC-Co cermets have generated interest in recent years for alternative binder phases. In this study, TiAl3 was used as a novel binder and consolidated by the high frequency induction heated sintering (HFIHS) method. The method was found to enable not only the rapid densification but also the inhibition of grain growth preserving the nano-scale microstructure. Highly dense WC and WC-TiAl3 with a relative density of up to 99% was obtained within one min by HFIHS under a pressure of 80MPa. The addition of TiAl3 to WC enhanced the toughness without great decrease of hardness due to crack deflection and nanostructured phase.