(Elsevier, 2000-11) Acchar, Wilson; Martinelli, Antonio Eduardo; Cairo, Carlos Alberto Alves
Recent advances in high-speed cutting materials have focused on reinforcing alumina with different carbides and nitrides in order to improve hardness and fracture toughness. However, data on mixed carbides is still scarce. The potential use of this type of material for cutting tool applications has yet to be determined. The present study reports some preliminary results obtained reinforcing Al2O3 with WTiC in the range of 5–30 wt.%. The material was hot-pressed at 1650°C for 30 min and then characterized. Vicker's microhardness (HV) and fracture toughness (KIC) were evaluated by the indentation method. The addition of WTiC did not result in any significant change in the fracture toughness of alumina, however hardness values in excess of 22 GPa were obtained
