Synthesis and characterization of WC-FeCr base alloy composite produced by spark plasma sintering

• Published in: International journal of refractory metals & hard materials 2024-04, Vol.120, p.106578, Article 106578
• Main Authors: Van Cong, Dinh, Lee, Dong-Wan, Yoon, Tae-Sik, Kim, Jin-Chun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: FeCr alloy content; Microstructural properties; Spark plasma sintering (SPS); WC-Fe alloy composite
• ISSN: 0263-4368; 2213-3917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2024.106578

This study investigates the microstructural and mechanical properties of WC-FeCr base alloy composite materials prepared using spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The composites with different FeCr alloy content (2% and 6%) were sintered at temperatures of 1100 °C, 1200 °C, and 1300 °C. The characterization of the sintered samples involved analyzing the surface morphology, phase composition, and grain structure of the sintered samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that the FeCr alloy content has a significant influence on the microstructural characteristics, hardness, and density of the WC-FeCr composites. Increasing FeCr alloy content results in improved surface quality and enhanced hardness. Additionally, the sintering temperature plays a crucial role in determining the microstructural features and mechanical properties of the composites. •The WC-6%FeCr composite exhibited a high level of hardness and maintained good surface quality across different sintering conditions.•The microstructure analysis revealed the existence of Lamellar and fine crystalline structures, with the Lamellar structure region exhibiting lattice fringes with a d-spacing of 0.22 nm.