Abstract
ZrC-added WC ceramics and SiC-added WC–2mol% ZrC ceramics were sintered at 1800°C using a resistance-heated hot-pressing machine. Dense WC ceramics containing 0–1mol% ZrC and WC–2mol% ZrC ceramics containing 1–6mol% SiC were obtained. The reaction products W2C, ZrO2 and ZrC-based solid solutions were formed in the ZrC-added WC ceramics during sintering. The relative amount of W2C reached zero at 2mol% ZrC, increased in the range of 2–6mol% ZrC, and decreased again above 6mol% ZrC. The average WC grain size decreased from 0.49μm for the WC ceramic to 0.24μm at 4mol% ZrC. The SiC addition of 1–2mol% to the WC–2mol% ZrC ceramics caused abnormal growth of WC grains. The Vickers hardness of the ZrC-added WC ceramics decreased to 17GPa at 2mol% ZrC. The hardness of the SiC-added WC–2mol% ZrC ceramics increased from 12.4 at 2mol% SiC to 21.5GPa at 6mol% SiC. The fracture toughness of the ZrC-added WC ceramics decreased from 6.2MPam0.5 for the WC ceramic to 5.2MPam0.5 at 4mol% added ZrC. The fracture toughness of the WC–2mol% ZrC ceramics with 6mol% SiC were relatively high at 6.7MPam0.5. The addition of SiC to WC-based ceramics thus improved both hardness and fracture toughness.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
