Microwave Sintering of WC-Co Hard Metals

WC-6wt%Co hard metal powders were sintered by a 2.45 GHz multimode microwave applicator in Ar atmosphere. Microwave sintering of WC-6wt%Co powder lowered the sintering temperature and shortened the processing time in less than two hours than by a conventional method. Microstructures of the sintered specimen were studied with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and no abnormal grain growth was observed. Mechanical properties were similar to the values of the specimens sintered by a conventional method. Specimen sintered at 135$0^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes ,hewed 99%, 20.5 GPa and 8.1 MPa$\sqrt{m}$ of theoretical density, hardness and fracture strength, respectively.

WC-Co 초경합금의 마이크로파 소결