SOLID-STATE SINTERING OF CEMENTED CARBIDES - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Solid slate sintering of cemented carbides is studied experimentally b y means of dilatometry and SEM. Surface analysis of the powders is per formed by means of ESCA, Auger and SIMS. it is concluded that for pure WC-Co mixtures the major part of densification occurs in the solid st ate and that high heating rates yield higher densification rates. 200 ppm of Ti, preferentially located at grain surfaces, yield a drastic d ecrease in sintering rate. Melting of the binder, i. e. transition to liquid phase sintering only has a minor effect on densification rate.