The influence of powder preparation condition on densification and microstructural properties of WC-Co- Al2O3 cermets

Abstract This study investigated how powder preparation during WC-10Co production with the addition of 10 wt% Al2O3 influenced its microstructural and mechanical properties. Powders were mixed with a mechanical shaker for 10 min and high energy milling for 2, 6, 10, 20, 30, and 50 h. The powders were then compacted at 200 MPa and sintered in a resistive dilatometric furnace for one hour, under an argon atmosphere, at a heating rate of 10 °C / min, and two sintering temperatures (1400 °C and 1550 °C). XRD and SEM/EDS analyses were carried out for both powders, which were sintered in order to examine their composition and morphology. The sintered powders were also characterized in terms of mechanical properties, densification, and dilatometric shrinkage. The results show that samples milled for 50 h and sintered at 1550 °C exhibited microstructures with denser phases than those of samples mixed in the shaker. The properties measured were around 68%, 45%, −0.30, and 280 HV for relative density, densification, dilatometric shrinkage, and hardness, respectively.