Evaluation of mechanical properties and processing conditions of WCCo alloys fabricated by magnetic pulsed compaction

Abstract

In this research, magnetic pulsed compaction (MPC), a very short duration, high-density perform molding method was used to produce bulks from initial WC7.5 wt% Co and WC12 wt% Co, followed by subsequent sintering. Mechanically alloyed powders with compositions of WC7.5 wt% Co and WC12 wt% Co were used for molding where each specimen weighed 2.0 g and pressures of 0.5 GPa, 1.0 GPa, 1.5 GPa, 2.0 GPa, 2.5 GPa and 3 GPa were applied to form the bulks. Maximum densities for WC7.5 wt% Co and WC12 wt% Co after magnetic pulsed compaction were found to be around 64% and 67%, respectively, which later turned into nearly 97% after sintering, while a maximum hardness of over 1430 HV was observed in WC12 wt% Co sample. Density, hardness and crack length all suggested a gradual pattern or trend in MPC-ed bulks that can yield almost fully dense, commercially applicable products with high mechanical properties after sintering.