Microstructure and abrasive wear of binderless carbides

The microstructure and the abrasive wear characteristics of two binderless carbides (WC-Mo2C and WC-TiC-TaC) have been studied. The microstructural an alysis identified differences in the amount of mixing between the gamma-pha se and WC. Mo2C and WC showed a large tendency to form mixed carbides, wher eas WC and TiC did not, In both materials grain boundary segregation of met allic species was found. Compared with alumina ceramics and WC-6 wt% Co the WC-Mo2C material showed the lowest abrasion rate and WC-TiC-TaC an interme diate. The wear mechanism was surprisingly ductile for WC-Mo2C, whereas WC- TiC-TaC suffered from grain pullout of TiC.