Microstructural changes during wear by plastic deformation of cemented carbide and cermet cutting inserts

The microstructure of one WC-Co and two Ti(C,N)-WC-Co cutting inserts has been studied before and after plastic deformation, caused by high-speed turning. It was found that after deformation, the binder phase had infiltrated some of the grain boundaries and formed lamellae between the hard phase grains. The infiltration of grain boundaries was assumed to occur by a stress-induced dissolution along the grain boundaries of the hard phase grains as a wide front of binder phase, rather than gradually by Co grain boundary diffusion. Some localized dissolution of the hard phase could also be seen as faceting of grains in WC-Co and at triple points in cermets. It was concluded that the plastic deformation occurs by grain boundary infiltration with simultaneous grain boundary sliding. The rate of deformation is controlled by grain boundary infiltration through dissolution of the hard phase grains.