Effect of Co addition on microstructural and mechanical properties of WC–B4C–SiC composites

Abstract

In this study, the effect of Co addition on microstructural and mechanical properties of WC-B4C–SiC composites sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) method was investigated. For this purpose, three batches of WC-B4C–SiC with different contents of Co (10 vol%, 15 vol%, and 20 Vol %) were sintered at 1400 °C. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the samples indicated the formation of W2B5, W3CoB3 as well as the remained C phases and unreacted SiC phase. It was observed that by increasing the Co content, the amount of W2B5 phase reduces and W3CoB3 and C contents increase. Therefore, W2B5 peaks were not detected in the sample containing 20vol% Co. Relative density values above 97% were obtained for all the composites. However, a decrease was observed in relative density by increasing the Co content in the composites. The highest flexural strength (510 ± 42 MPa), fracture toughness (10.34 ± 0.82 MPa m1/2), and hardness (20.63 ± 0.75 GPa) were also obtained for the sample containing 10vol% Co compared to the other samples. In addition, Transgranular fracture of SiC as well as pulling out of W3CoB3 and W2B5 particles were observed in the fracture surface micrographs of the samples. The presence of micro-cracks in the SiC grains, fracture of W3CoB3 grains, and crack deflection was reported as dominant toughening mechanisms.