Characterization and Microstructural Evolution of WC-Co Cemented Carbides

Two types of cemented carbides have been elaborated from three mixtures of WC and Co powders containing 3, 5 and 6% of cobalt mass. Three samples of these mixtures have been obtained by liquid phase sintering and three others of the same composition have been sintered then densified by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Observations by scanning electronic microscope have allowed to note that the samples elaborated by sintering followed by an HIP densification have a more homogeneous structure than that observed in the sintered samples. Under the compression, the WC grains flattens and interlock more easily from one another which gives a uniform surface appearance. Energy dispersion analysis shows that these samples contain a very small voluminal fraction of graphite and residual porosities, these are more pronounced in sintered samples, especially in the case of alloys with a low Co content (3 and 5%). X rays diffraction analysis allowed to show clearly the existence of cobalt type carbide in the sintered samples. Measurement of the closed porosity allows to observe that the sintering process followed by densification by HIP leads to the elaboration of alloys with a low rate of closed porosity. Microhardness of these samples have improved hardnesses.

On Interfacial Microstructure Evolution in an Isothermally Exposed SiC Fiber-Reinforced Ti-17 Matrix Composite

The kinetics and mechanisms of interface reactions in a unidirectional continuous SiC fiber-reinforced Ti-17 matrix composite were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that a reaction zone (RZ) consisting of two-layered TiC-type carbide forms at the fiber/matrix interface during fabrication of the composite. After isothermal exposure at elevated temperatures, the two-layered TiC-type carbide is inherited, and a new TiC-type carbide layer forms within the RZ after exposure at temperatures lower than 900°C, while a new Ti3C2-type carbide layer forms after exposure at 900°C. It was also observed that the growth of RZ is a diffusion-controlled and temperature-dependent process, obeying the Fick's law-based parabolic relationship and the Arrhenius equation. Two material constants, the temperature-independent rate constant k0 and activation energy Q, are determined as 31.5 × 10−4µm/s1/2 and 49.9 kJ/mol, respectively.

Microstructure of a V-Containing Cobalt Based Alloy Prepared by Mechanical Alloying and Hot Pressed Sintering

In this paper, a bulk V-containing cobalt-based alloy with high chromium and tungsten contents was prepared by mechanical alloying and hot pressed sintering using Co, Cr, W, Ni, V and C pure element powders. XRD, SEM, TEM and Vickers hardness tests were employed to characterize the microstructure and mechanical properties of the mechanical alloyed powders and hot pressed bulk cobalt-based alloy. The results show that all elements can be mixed uniformly and that the Co, Cr, and Ni elements were made into an amorphous state after 10 h ball milling in a high energy ball miller. The microstructure of the prepared bulk alloy was composed of a γ-Co matrix with a large number of nano-twins and fine M23C6 and M12C carbide particles well-distributed in the alloy. The V element was mainly distributed in M23C6-type carbide and no V-rich MC-type carbide was found in the microstructure. The prepared alloy had a high hardness of 960 ± 9.2 HV and good a fracture toughness KIc of about 10.5 ± 0.46 MPa·m1/2. The microstructure formation and strengthening mechanisms of the prepared cobalt-based alloy are discussed.

EFFECT OF Mo CONTENT ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF LASER CLADDING Fe-BASED ALLOY COATINGS

Mo alloying Fe-based coating was fabricated on the surface of Q235 steel by using 6 kW fiber laser. The effects of Mo additions on the microstructure, microhardness and wear resistance of the cladding layer were studied by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Vickers hardness tester and M-200 ring block wear tester. Research results showed that the microstructure of Mo-free cladding layer mainly consisted of matrix and eutectic structure. The matrix was martensite and retained austenite. The eutectic structure mainly consisted of M2(B,C) and M7(C,B)3 type of eutectic borocarbides. With the increase of Mo content, there was no significant change in the matrix. However, the eutectic structure was transformed from M2(B,C)- and M7(C,B)3-type borocarbides into M2(B,C)-, M7(C,B)3- and M[Formula: see text](C,B)6-type borocarbides. When the content of Mo is 4.0[Formula: see text]wt.%, the Mo2C-type carbide appear on the matrix, and parts of the borocarbide networks are broken. The change of microhardness of the cladding layer was not obvious with the increase of Mo content. But the increase of Mo content increases the wear resistance of the cladding layer. The wear resistance of cladding layer with 4.0[Formula: see text]wt.% Mo is 2.4 times as much as the cladding layer which is Mo-free.

Microstructure and Room Temperature Mechanical Properties of a New Corrosion-Resistant Alloy GH945 for Oil and Gas Applications

The microstructure and mechanical properties of a new corrosion-resistant alloy GH945 with high strength for oil and gas production were studied in this paper. The results showed that the main precipitations of GH945 alloy after solution heat treatment and two-stage age hardening treatment were γ′ and γ′′ phase, MC-type carbide, σ phase and M23C6-type carbide. The increase of primary aging temperature not only promoted the precipitation of σ phase and film of continuous M23C6 carbide on the grain boundary, but also led to the coarsening of γ′ and γ′′ phase, which resulted in the decrease of yield strength and impact toughness. Alloy with high Nb content had high strength but low impact toughness. The following heat treatment was preferably used to obtain the combination of high strength and excellent ductility and toughness for GH945 alloy: 1010 °C/70 min, WQ+ 735 °C/9 h + FC to 615 °C/18 h, AC.

Effect of Alloying Elements on Microstructure of Biomedical Co-Cr-Mo F75 Alloy

Precipitates in biomedical Co-Cr-Mo cast alloys are closely related to their wear and mechanical properties. It is important to elucidate the effects of addition of alloying elements listed in ASTM F75 on precipitation and dissolution in order to control microstructural changes in fabricating biomedical Co-Cr-Mo alloy implants. In this study, Si and Mn were selected as the alloying elements. The chemical compositions of two cast alloys were Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.25C with containing 1mass% Si dan Mn. The alloys were solution treated at temperatures at 1448 to 1548 K for holding time of 1.8-43.2 ks, followed by water quenching. The precipitates in the as-cast alloy with Si addition were M23C6 carbide, h-phase (M6C-M12C type carbide) and p-phase (M2T3X type carbide with a b-Mn structure), while M23C6 carbide and h-phase were detected in the as-cast alloy with Mn addition. The alloy with Si addition required longer solution treatment time for complete precipitate dissolution as compared with the alloy with Mn addition. The phase and morphology of precipitates observed during solution treatment depended on the heat treatment temperature and holding time and alloy composition.