[en] Mechanical properties of cemented tungsten-cobalt carbides strongly depend on the sintering process. Conventional sintering is carried out in a vacuum furnace with long processing times (between 12 and 24 hours for an entire cycle - heating, holding at high temperature and cooling down) and at high temperature (> 1400°C). In these conditions, grain growth is observed during the early stage of the sintering.
Unconventional sintering processes have been developed in order to decrease the temperature and the holding time during sintering. At lower temperature and shorter holding time, it is possible to obtain a finer microstructure, which leads to improved mechanical properties. The combination of pressure and/or electric current with the temperature can also help to refine the microstructure.
Three different technologies were studied and compared to conventional vacuum sintering: microwave sintering (MwS), spark plasma sintering (SPS) and hot pressing (HP).
Research center :
CRIM - Ingénierie des matériaux
Disciplines :
Materials science & engineering
Author, co-author :
Mégret, Alexandre ; Université de Mons > Faculté Polytechnique > Métallurgie
