Estudo do efeito da alumina no sistema WC-Al2O3 via metalurgia do pó

Abstract

Tungsten Carbide (WC) is best known for its excellent physical and mechanical properties. However, it has limitations, mainly when the tougher and lighter material is requested. An alternative to minimize these problems is a composite of WC and alumina (Al2O3) to reducing density and promoting toughness at certain temperatures. Thus, in this work, the effects of the different amount of alumina and powder metallurgy processing parameters on microstructure of particulate and sintered composite (WC-Al2O3) were studied and the mechanical properties, particularly the microhardness, of the product were analyzed to find an alternative cutting tool material. In the study, the particulate materials production route was applied. The powders of the system have the following compositions: WC with 5, 10 and 15wt% of Al2O3 processed by high energy milling in a planetary milling for 1, 4 and 10 hours. Compacting of mixed powders was done using a uniaxial press in a cylindrical die of 5 mm diameter under a pressure of 400 MPa. Solid phase sintering was performed in a resistance furnace at 1450 and 1550 °C with 1 hour of holding time and heating rate of 10°C/min in argon atmosphere. The raw materials were characterized by particulometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The milled powders and sintered samples were subjected to the same tests and microhardness test was also done for sintered samples as well. The results showed that high energy milling met the targets for particle size and however, there was no dispersion of the constituent phases of the material. Due to the sintering or partial consolidation of the green compacts, the microhardness values were low, due to the heterogeneity of the microstructure that presented agglomerates of the phases (WC-WC and Al2O3 -Al2O3), and also a high percentage of pores. However, alumina influenced the sintering microstructure refinement.