Keywords: WC-based cemented carbides

The aim of the present work is to study the effects of the nanostructured WC-20 wt. % (Fe,Co) with different iron to cobalt ratios on microstructure and hardness of the sintered samples. Furthermore, a sample with a cobalt binder was produced under the same conditions for comparison purposes. The nanocomposite development, after different milling times, was monitored by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A homogenous distribution of nanostructured WC (crystallite size less than 30 nm) in the binder matrix was formed after 25 h of milling. The hardness and the relative density of the WC-20wt. % (Fe,Co) composites consolidated by conventional sintering at 1350˚C were investigated. In the sintered samples after 25 h of milling, tungsten carbide grains have a uniform distribution with a lower grain size. Densification and hardness improved after 25 h of milling and reached optimum levels for the 25 h milled powders with equal ratio of iron to cobalt. 1