Strength degradation of a tungsten carbide-cobalt composite at elevated temperatures

The objective of this work was to investigate the transverse rupture streng th behavior of tungsten carbide blended with 10wt% Co as a function of temp erature. The samples were tested in three-point bending flexure in the temp erature range 25-1000 degrees C. Specimens were also indented at room tempe rature to measure the crack size and the corresponding values of hardness a nd toughness. The results showed that the WC-Co composite suffered a streng th loss at temperatures above 600 degrees C. The fracture analysis indicate d the presence of oxidation and microstructural. defects in the samples tes ted at the higher temperatures. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1999. All rights reserved.