Abnormal gradient microstructure in Cr3C2 based cemented carbide

Abstract

With OLYMPUS PMG3 metallograph, an abnormal three-layer gradient structure, i. e. coarse grain zone, binder enrichment zone and normal structure zone from surface to inner, was observed in Cr3C2 based cemented carbide. In the binder enrichment zone, three different shapes of anomalous coarse carbides were observed. It is shown that the transverse rupture strength can be raised remarkably, up 20.7% from the alloy with abnormal gradient structure by removing the abnormal gradient structure. The results suggested that the abnormal gradient structure in the surface, especially the anomalous coarse carbides in the binder enrichment zone is the main reason for the lower strength