Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of WC-Co-cBN Composites

Abstract

WC-Co-cBN composites were consolidated by SPS at 1373 to 1673 K under a moderate pressure of 100 MPa. The addition of cBN increased the starting and finishing temperature of shrinkage and decreased the relative density of WC-Co. The relative density of WC-(10-20 vol%) cBN composites was about 97-100% at 1573 K and decreased with increasing the sintering temperature to 1673 K due to the phase transformation of cBN to hBN. The highest hardness and fracture toughness of WC-Co-20 vol% cBN composite sintered at 1573 K were 23.2 GPa and 8.0 MP m1/2, respectively.