High hardness-high toughness WC-20Co nanocomposites: Effect of VC variation and sintering temperature

WC-Co nanocomposites with variable VC content are synthesized by liquid phase sintering at two different temperatures. The as synthesized samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and optical microscope. The mechanical properties are obtained by Vickers indentation method. The high content of VC, lead to high porosity when sintering temperature is increased from 1350 to 1400 °C. The relative density of all the samples is more than 95%. Microstructure reveals that agglomeration of W-Co-C and V-W-C increases at 1400 °C, which generates layered interfaces in radial direction and hence the material inhomogeneity. XRD pattern shows that the formation of η phase increases at 1400 °C, which is responsible to decrease the fracture toughness of the present samples. The average particle size of 102 nm, highest hardness of 1870.6 kgf/mm² with fracture toughness of 14.4 MN/mm^3/2 is observed in sample having 7.5 wt% VC, sintered at 1350 °C for one minute. This combination shows the highest hardness and reasonably high toughness as compared to conventionally sintered materials reported so far.