Geometry effects during sintering of graded cemented carbides: Modelling of microstructural evolution and mechanical properties

Cemented carbides with mesoscopically non-homogeneous properties by design represent a potential to enhanceperformance in metal cutting and rock drilling. Development of in-homogeneous structured hard materialsthrough an ICME approach requires a thorough understanding of diffusion kinetics during solid and liquid statesintering. In this work, we used thermodynamics and diffusion kinetics modelling tools to predict the micro-structure and resulting properties of cemented carbide composites. First, we designed and gradient sintered two(WC-TiCN-Co) cemented carbides with different nitrogen to titanium ratios. Second, we reproduced the experi-mental results in 2D by means of thermodynamic and kinetic simulations. In the last step we calculated fracturetoughness KIC, and Vickers hardness of cemented carbides. The agreement between simulations and experimentalresults is fair and acceptableQC 20190916Sintring av inhomogena strukturer för förbättra prestand