The Effect of Processing Parameters on the Performance of Spark Plasma Sintered cBN-WC-Co Composites

Cubic boron nitride (cBN) particles were mixed into superfine tungsten carbide (WC), and then cBN-WC-cobalt (Co) composites were prepared using spark plasma sintering method. The influence of the processing parameters on the microstructures and the mechanical properties of the cBN-WC-Co composites were investigated. The results indicated that the cBN particles arranged uniformly and had an excellent adhesion with WC matrix. There was no evidence of phase transformation from cBN to hBN. With the increasing of the sintering temperature, the liquid-phase Co was increased and entered the micro-pores between WC and cBN particles easily. Correspondingly, the density, the flexural strength, and the hardness of the cBN-WC-Co composites also increased. With the further increasing of the sintering temperature, WC grains grew leading to the reduction of the hardness. Therefore, the hardness of the samples increased to a maximum value of 2978 HV at 1250 °C, and then decreased with the sintering temperature. The experimental results also showed that the density, the flexural strength, and the hardness of cBN-WC-Co composites increased with the holding time, whereas the hardness presented a decreasing tendency when the holding time exceeded 7 min.