DEFORMATION AND FRACTURE OF A HARD ALLOY OF THE TYPE TUNGSTEN CARBIDE- HIGH-MANGANESE STEEL - FRACTOGRAPHIC AND MICROSTRUCTURAL ASPECTS

Optical metallography, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission el ectron microscopy were used for studying the deformation behavior and fracture of a ''tungsten carbide - 110G13 steel'' hard alloy with aust enite in stable and metastable states after quasistatic loading. With metastable austenite, the binding phase is capable of more extensive p lastic deformation, strengthening and transfer of external loads to ca rbide particles. The latter are deformed jointly with the matrix, ensu ring a combination of high strength, toughness and hardness.