The Study of Properties of WC-Based and W-Based Composites Fabricated by Infiltration with Liquid Cu-Mn Binder

Abstract

This study refers to the characterization of alloys WC-W-Ni, obtained from a process of sintering, by using fine powders infiltrated by an alloy Cu-Mn binder. This process is used to produce a carbide cemented high-speed cutting tools and drilling tools because of their high hardness, refractoriness and wear resistance. The study required, the determination of the sintering conditions of the infiltration. The operation of infiltration consists of heating the binder until the melting point 950°C to let it infiltrate by gravity, the mixture of metal powders respectively, W, WC, W+Ni, WC+Ni and WC+W, thus allowing the powder grains to drown in the binder while being densified during cooling. The characterization of powders is used to determine theirs physical properties, chemical composition, powder classes and specific surface. The present study investigates the possibilities of Cu-Mn alloys used as binder alloys in infiltration of WC-based and W-based powders. After infiltration, a microstructural and mechanical characterization of the sintered samples and infiltrant were conducted in order to include/understand the phenomena implied during the densification and infiltration.