Structural analysis of the W-Cu-Co-C system composite by the synthesis method at high pressure and temperature

Abstract

This study proposes a new method for the synthesis of cemented carbides in the tungsten carbide-cobalt
system under conditions of high pressure and high temperature (HTS). The aim of the research is to
eliminate the problem of the balance of the relationship between hardness and strength in this twocomponent
system. WC-Co composites were obtained by direct synthesis from elemental tungsten,
carbon, and cobalt under thermobaric conditions, i.e., in the temperature range of 4-8 GPa and 1200-2200
°C, which allowed the formation of the WC phase and compaction to occur in one stage. Structural
analysis and testing were carried out in scientific research, in which the results of X-ray diffraction -
structure of the crystal lattice, phase composition and average particle size and scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) - microstructure of the material surface, particle shape and size, defects, as well as
transmission electron microscopy (TEM) - crystallographic data were presented. The obtained WC-Co
composites were scientifically investigated to achieve high hardness >13 GPa and high viscosity (>12
MPa·m1⁄2). It is intended to achieve physical values characteristic of the common WC-6Co class widely
used in production.