• Resources Recycling
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2010

A fundamental study was carried out to develop a process for recycling tungsten and cobalt from WC-Co hardmetal sludge generated in the manufacturing process of hardmetal tools. The complete extraction of cobalt and simultaneous formation of tungstic was achieved by treating the sludge using aqua regia. The effect of aqua regia concentration, reaction temperature and time, pulp density on cobalt leaching and tungstic acid formation was investigated. The complete leaching of cobalt was attained at the optimum conditions: 100 vol.% aqua regia concentration, $100^{\circ}C$ temperature, 60 min. reaction time and 400 g/L pulp density. A complete conversion of tungsten carbide of the sludge to tungstic acid was however, obtained at the pulp densities lower than 150 g/L under the above condition. The progress of reaction during the aqua regia treatment of the sludge was monitored through the XRD phase identification of the residue. The metallic impurities in the tungstic acid so produced could be further removed as insoluble residues by dissolving the tungsten values in ammonia solution. The ammonium paratungstate($(NH_4)_{10}{\cdot}H_2W_{12}O_{42}{\cdot}4H_2O$) of 99.85% purity was prepared from the ammonium polytungstate solution by the evaporation crystallization method.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 1999

The effect of carbon content on the shape of WC grains dispersed in the Co-rich matrix during liquid phase sintering of WC-35%Co hard metals has been determined. The shape of WC grains was observed using SEM stereography after removing cobalt matrix with boiling hydrochloric acid solution. The WC grains changed from hexagonal to trigonal prism as the carbon content increased in the two-phase region of(WC + $\beta$ - Co), while the morphology of WC grains changed from trigonal to hexagonal shape as the carbon content decreased. The morphology of WC grains changes reversibly along with carbon loss or carbon pick-up. Morphology change of WC grains is attributed to crystal structure of WC, which has an asymmetric array of carbon atoms. There are two types of prismatic planes having different numbers of broken W-C bonds in WC grains. It is scrutinized that as the carbon content increases, the high energy prism planes grow fast and the crystals change from hexagonal to trigonal shape. On the other hand, when the carbon content decreases, the high energy prism planes are dissolved accompanying split of (100) plane into (101) and (101) planes.

• 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.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.372-378
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• 2016

This study focuses on the development of an alkaline leaching hydrometallurgy process for the recovery of tungsten from WC/Co hardmetal sludge, and an examination of the effect of the process parameters on tungsten recovery. The alkaline leaching hydrometallurgy process has four stages, i.e., oxidation of the sludge, leaching of tungsten by NaOH, refinement of the leaching solution, and precipitation of tungsten. The WC/Co hardmetal sludge oxide consists of $WO_3$ and $CoWO_4$. The leaching of tungsten is most affected by the leaching temperature, followed by the NaOH concentration and the leaching time. About 99% of tungsten in the WC/Co hardmetal sludge is leached at temperatures above $90^{\circ}C$ and a NaOH concentration above 15%. For refinement of the leaching solution, pH control of the solution using HCl is more effective than the addition of $Na_2S{\cdot}9H_2O$. The tungsten is precipitated as high-purity $H_2WO_4{\cdot}H_2O$ by pH control using HCl. With decreasing pH of the solution, the tungsten recovery rate increases and then decrease. About 93% of tungsten in the WC/Co hardmetal sludge is recovered by the alkaline leaching hydrometallurgy process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.27-28
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.185-188
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.403-404
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• 2008

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.5-13
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• 1995

Various techniques to measure fracture toughness which is an important parameter to predict fracture behavious of structural materials have been reported. Among these mathods, this paper describes the micro-Vickers indentation crack method to estimate the fracture toughness of some WC-Co composites. Two indentation crack patterns (such as radial-median cracks (orhalf-penny cracks) and Palmqvist cracks generated during indentation) are referred precisely. The fracture toughness of WC-4.7wt%Co, WC-6wr%Co and WE-9wr%Co composites were estimated by using some equations given by Shetty et al., Nihara et al. in this study. We show the reliability of indentation method by comparing the results with those from literatures. The appropriate equation to estimate the fracture toughness in the case of WC-Co composite is given. In addition, some technical informations in terms of the crack length by indentation in estimating the existence of the surface residual stress that prevents to obtain an accurate fracture toughness are presented.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.277-282
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• 2011

[ $LiCoO_2$ ] a cathode material for lithium rechargeable batteries, was prepared using recycled $Co_3O_4$. First, the cobalt hydroxide powders were separated from waste WC-Co hard metal with acid-base chemical treatment, and then the impurities were eliminated by centrifuge method. Subsequently, $Co_3O_4$ powders were prepared by thermal treatment of resulting $Co(OH)_2$. By adding a certain amount of $Li_2CO_3$ and $LiOH{\cdot}H_2O$, the $LiCoO_2$ was obtained by sintering for 10 h in air at $800^{\circ}C$. The synthesized $LiCoO_2$ particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2009

This study has been focused on an effective surface finishing method combining ELID (ELectrolytic In-process Dressing) and MAP (Magnetic Assisted Polishing) for the nano-precision mirror grinding of glass-lens molding mould. ELID grinding is an excellent technique for mirror grinding of various advanced metallic or nonmetallic materials. A polishing process is also required for elimination of scratches present on ELID grinded surfaces. MAP has been used as polishing method due to its high polishing efficiency and superior surface quality. It also presents some techniques for achieving the nanometer roughness of the hard material such as WC-Co, which are extensively used in precision tooling material.