• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.58.1-58.1
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• 2011

WC-Co and other similar cemented carbides have been widely used as hard materials in industrial cutting tools and as mould metals; and a number of techniques have been applied to improve its microstructural characteristics, hardness and ear resistance. Cobalt is used primarily to facilitate liquid phase sintering and acts as a matrix, i.e. a cementing phase between WC grains. A uniform distribution of metal phase in a ceramic is beneficial for improved mechanical properties of the composite. WC-Co, starting from initial powders, is vastly used for a variety of machining, cutting, drilling, and other applications because of its unique combination of high strength, high hardness, high toughness, and moderate modulus of elasticity, especially with fine grained WC and finely distributed cobalt. In this study, that started with two different compositions of initial powders, WC-7.5wt%Co and WC-12wt%Co with initial powder size being 1~3 ${\mu}m$, magnetic pulsed compaction followed by subsequent vacuum sintering were carried out to produce consolidated preforms. Magnetic Pulsed Compaction (MPC), a very short duration (~600 ${\mu}s$), high pressure (~4 Gpa), high-density preform molding method was used with varied pressure between 0.5 and 3.0 Gpa, in order to reach an initial high density that would help improve the sintering behavior. For both compositions and varied MPC pressure, before and after sintering, changes in microstructural behavior and mechanical properties were analyzed. With proper combination of MPC pressure and sintering, samples were obtained with better mechanical properties, densification and microstructural behavior, and considerably improved than other conventional processes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.635-636
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• 2006

In this study, the diffusion behaviors of C and Co in liquid phase sintering of WC-Co system were investigated whether these two components diffused in the same direction in case of having opposite gradient each other with not being $\eta$ phase. The green compacts with controlled compositions in not being of $\eta$ phase and gradient composition which one is WC-5Co-1.2%C, the other is WC-XCo-0.2%C (where X = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25) were sintered at $1350^{\circ}C$ and $1400^{\circ}C$ and then the diffusion behaviors of C and Co were investigated by analyses of compositional change, also determined for microstructure and microhardness. Also, same testing was carried out on the specimens with dual layers sintered in upright and reverse positions to evaluate the effect of gravity on the diffusion in liquid Co. From the results of this study, we can find the fact that the direction of diffusion for C and Co in WC-Co system during liquid phase sintering was different and the effect of gravity for the liquid was insignificant. Also other physical properties were changed on the diffusion of elements.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 1993

Recently, WC-Co have some excellent properities as the material for the mechanical component such as metallic moulding parts, ball dies parts, and punch parts. This paper describes the surface roughness and grinding force caused by experimental study on the surface grinding of WC-Co with ultra-precision like a mirror shape using diamond wheel. Also, some investigations are carried out using WA grinding wheel to increase improved ground surface roughness such as polishing, lapping effect. Some important results obtained here are summarized as follow. 1) Within this experimental grinding condition, we can be obtained $R_{max}.\;2\mu\textrm{m}\;R_a\;0.3\mu\textrm{m}$ whichare the most favourable ground surface roughness using #140 diamond wheel, and improved surface roughness values about 20 .approx. 25% throughout 5 times sparkout grinding 2) The value of surface roughness is Rmax. $0.49\mu\textrm{m},\;R_a\;0.06\mu\textrm{m}$ using #600 diamond wheel. 3) The area of no rack zone is less than $F_{n}$ 0.27N/mm, Ft 0.009N/mm

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2013

High velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spray coating of WC-metal powder (powder) was carried out to improve the resistances of friction, wear and corrosion of magnetic bearing shaft material Inconel718 (In718) of turbo blower. A micron sized WC-metal powder (86.5% WC, 9.5% Co 4% Cr) was coated onto In718 surface using HVOF thermal spraying. During the spraying, the binder metals and alloy such as Co, Cr and Co-Cr alloy were molten and a small portion of WC particles were partially decomposed to $W_2C$ and free carbon at above its decomposition temperature of $1250^{\circ}C$. The free carbon and excessively sprayed oxygen formed carbon oxide gases, resulting a porous coating of porosity of $2.2{\pm}0.3%$. The surface hardness of substrate increased approximately three times from 400 Hv of In718 to $1260{\pm}30Hv$ of the coating The friction coefficients of the coating were approximately $0.33{\pm}0.03$ at $25^{\circ}C$ and $0.26{\pm}0.03$ at $450^{\circ}C$. These values were smaller than those of In718 substrate at both temperatures due to the lubrication from the free carbon and the cobalt oxide debris. The corrosion resistance of the coating was higher than that of In718 both in salt water of 3.5% NaCl and acid of 1 M HCl solutions, on the contrary, it was lower in base solution of 1 M NaOH. According to this study, the HVOF WC-metal powder coating is recommended for the durability improvement of magnetic bearing shaft of turbo blower.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.79-80
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• 2006

새로운 급속소결방법인 고주파유도가열 소결법과 펄스전류활성 소결법을 이용하여 습식 볼밀링으로 혼합한 WC-8wt.%Co분말에 60MPa의 압력과 90%의 고주파출력 또는 2800A의 필스전류를 가하여 상대밀도가 98.6% 이상인 초경재료를 2분이내의 짧은 시간에 제조하였다. 초기의 WC분말의 입도가 미세해짐에 따라 고주파유도가열 소결법과 펄스전류활성 소결법 모두 소결시간이 단축되는 경향을 보였으며 그 소결체의 결정립 크기도 감소하였다. 고주파유도가열 소결법으로 제조된 초경합금의 WC 결정립 크기는 초기입도가 증가함에 따라 가각 410, 540, 600, 700 및 850nm으로 측정되었으며. 그 결과를 Fig. 1.에 나타내었다. WC의 초기입도가 $0.5{\mu}m$일 경우 고주파유도가열 소결법과 펄스전류활성 소결법으로 제조된 WC-8wt.%Co 소결체의 경도와 파괴인성은 각각 $1923kg/mm^2$과 $10.5MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$ 및 $1947kg/mm^2$과 $10.8MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$ 이었다.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2003

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.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.408-414
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• 2018

This study investigates the microstructure and wear properties of cermet (ceramic + metal) coating materials manufactured using high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) process. Three types of HVOF coating layers are formed by depositing WC-12Co, WC-20Cr-7Ni, and Cr3C2-20NiCr (wt.%) powders on S45C steel substrate. The porosities of the coating layers are $1{\pm}0.5%$ for all three specimens. Microstructural analysis confirms the formation of second carbide phases of $W_2C$, $Co_6W_6C$, and $Cr_7C_3$ owing to decarburizing of WC phases on WC-based coating layers. In the case of WC-12Co coating, which has a high ratio of $W_2C$ phase with high brittleness, the interface property between the carbide and the metal binder slightly decreases. In the $Cr_3C_2-20CrNi$ coating layer, decarburizing almost does not occur, but fine cavities exist between the splats. The wear loss occurs in the descending order of $Cr_3C_2-20NiCr$, WC-12Co, and WC-20Cr-7Ni, where WC-20Cr-7Ni achieves the highest wear resistance property. It can be inferred that the ratio of the carbide and the binding properties between carbide-binder and binder-binder in a cermet coating material manufactured with HVOF as the primary factors determine the wear properties of the cermet coating material.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 1996

The effects of added VC, Cr$_3$C$_2$ and TaC on the microstructures and properties of submicron WC-10%Co cemented carbides. The relative sintered density of compact was increased by addition of Cr$_3$C$_2$ but decreased oppositely by addition of VC or TaC. The growth of WC grains was significantly suppressed by addition of these carbides. The hardness of these alloys was increased by addition of other carbides and showed a maximum value by simultaneously added VC and Cr$_3$C$_2$. The transverse rupture strength(T.R.S.) was in- creased by addition of Cr$_3$C$_2$, while it was decreased by addition of VC or TaC. The relative sintered density and T.R.S. of these alloys were improved by HIP-treatment. The maximum T.R.S. was 328kg/mm$^2$ in the Wc-10%Co cemented carbide with addition of 0.5%VC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.672-677
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• 2020

Expensive PCBN or ceramic cutting tools are used for the processing of difficult-to-cut materials such as Ti and Ni alloy materials. These tools have a problem of breaking easily due to their high hardness but low fracture toughness. To solve this problem, cutting tools that form various coating layers are used in low-cost WC-Co hard material tools, and researches on various tool materials are being conducted. In this study, WC-5, 10, and 15 wt%Ni hard materials for difficult-to-cut cutting materials are densified using horizontal ball milled WC-Ni powders and pulsed current activated sintering method (PCAS method). Each PCASed WC-Ni hard materials are almost completely dense, with a relative density of up to 99.7 ~ 99.9 %, after the simultaneous application of pressure of 60 MPa and electric current for 2 min; process involves almost no change in the grain size. The average grain sizes of WC and Ni for WC-5, 10, and 15 wt%Ni hard materials are about 1.09 ~ 1.29 and 0.31 ~ 0.51 µm, respectively. Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of WC-5, 10, and 15 wt%Ni hard materials are about 1,923 ~ 1,788 kg/mm2 and 13.2 ~ 14.3 MPa.m1/2, respectively. Microstructure and phase analyses of PCASed WC-Ni hard materials are performed.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.92-97
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• 2012

Using the pulsed current activated sintering method, the WC-10wt.% Co materials were densified using a WC and Co powder. The WC-Co almost completely dense with a relative density of up to 99.5 % after the simultaneous application of a pressure of 60 MPa and an electric current for 3 minutes almost without any significant change in the grain size. The average grain size of about $0.3{\mu}m$. The hardness and fracture toughness at $1000^{\circ}C$ were about $2200kg/mm^2$ and $9.8MPa.m^{1/2}$, respectively.