Oscillatory pressure sintering: A new method for preparing WC-Co cemented carbides

WC-10 wt% Co cemented carbides were prepared by a new oscillatory pressure sintering (OPS) process in the present work, and the influence of sintering temperature on their microstructure and mechanical properties was mainly investigated. The results were also compared to the sample prepared via conventional hot pressing (HP) under a similar consolidation condition. The optimum OPS temperature was similar to 1310 degrees C; the denser sample with uniform microstructure could be obtained; the sample exhibited the highest flexural strength of 2431 MPa, Vickers hardness of 21.1 GPa and fracture toughness of 11.42 MPa m(1/2). Moreover, the OPS-fabricated sample displayed much better mechanical properties than that of HP-fabricated sample, which might greatly be related to the improved grain boundary sliding, plastic deformation and mass diffusion during the OPS process. This work demonstrates a new approach to prepare high-performance cemented carbides. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.