Spark Plasma Sintering of CBN-WC-10Co Composites

Abstract

Nanocomposite WC-10Co powder produced by spray pyrolysis-continuous reduction & carbonization technology and cubic boron nitride (CBN) plated with titanium by vacuum vapor deposit were used, and this paper adopted spark plasma sintering (SPS) process to prepare CBN enhanced ultrafine WC-10Co cemented carbide cermets composite material. The microstructure and mechanical properties of CBN-WC-10Co composites were investigated. The results show that CBN-WC-10Co composites consolidated by spark plasma sintering can reach 95.0 % relative density, and transverse rupture strength (TRS) is 1050 MPa, the average grain size of cermets matrix is less than 420 nm, and CBN-WC-10Co composites with excellent properties are achieved. The CBN still remains very good crystal shape after 1240°C spark plasma sintering, and there is not obvious clearance between CBN plated with titanium and the cermets matrix, the coated titanium layer can not only improve the thermal stability of CBN, but also increase the properties of CBN-WC-10Co composites.