MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WC-CO BY NITROGEN ION IMPLANTATION: IMPROVEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL TOOLS

Ion implantation of WC-Co has been widely investigated for the improvement of wear resistance, but rarely for friction behavior. Although friction is closely associated with wear, more factors influence friction than wear, and low wear does not generally lead to low friction. Therefore, we focus our study on the effects of ion implantation on the mechanical properties in WC-Co cermets, with particular interest in tool industry applications.