The microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr3C2-reinforced WC-Cu-10Ni-5Mn-3Sn cemented carbides fabricated via pressureless melt infiltration

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 1010; p. 177493
• Main Authors: Chen, Yao, Li, Xiulan, Zhou, Xinjun, You, Fei, Li, Wei, Li, Xuan, Zhang, Yuan, Xiong, Can
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.01.2025
• Subjects: Cr3C2; Cu-10Ni-5Mn-3Sn; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Pressureless melt infiltration; Mechanical properties; Cu-10Ni-5Mn-3Sn; WC; Microstructure; Cr3C2; Pressureless melt infiltration
• ISSN: 0925-8388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.177493

The effect of small contents of Cr3C2 dopant (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 wt%) on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of WC-Cu-10Ni-5Mn-3Sn alloy is investigated via pressureless melt infiltration tests at the temperature of 1200 ℃ and the infiltration time of 90 min. The results show that with the addition of Cr3C2, there is a change in the amounts of Cr, W and C in the solid solution, whereas the Ni2W4C and Cr7C3 phases appear successively in the binder alloy. Moreover, Cr7C3 readily absorbs W produced by the decomposition of WC, promoting the formation of (W,Cr)Cx and (Cr,W)C phases. The appearance or disappearance of new phases leads to the WC grain size variation, which affects the mechanical properties of the alloy. The hardness and transverse rupture strength first increase and then decrease with the increase of Cr3C2 doping, reaching the maximum values (93.1 HRA and 1720 MPa, respectively) at the Cr3C2 contents of 0.4 wt% and 0.6 wt%, respectively. The impact toughness decreases with the increase in Cr3C2 addition, achieving the most optimal value of 4.65 J/cm2 in the alloy without Cr3C2 addition. •The effect of Cr3C2 dopant on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of WC-Cu-10Ni-5Mn-3Sn alloy is investigated via pressureless melt infiltration.•A new phase appears in the alloy: Cr7C3, Ni2W4C, (W, Cr)Cx, (Cr, W)C.•The hardness reaches a maximum value of 93.1 HRA when the addition of Cr3C2 is 0.4 wt%.•The transverse rupture strength of the alloy achieves its maximum of 1720 MPa at the Cr3C2 content of 0.6 wt%. In turn, the impact toughness is reduced with the increase in the addition of Cr3C2, attaining the optimum level of 4.65 J/cm2 in the alloy without Cr3C2 addition.