Study on the diamond/ultrafine WC-Co cermets interface formed in a SPS consolidated composite

Nanocrystalline WC-Co composite powder and coated tungsten diamond by using vacuum vapor deposition were consolidated by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) process to prepare diamond-enhanced WC-Co cemented carbide composite materials. The interface microstructures between coated tungsten diamond and WC-Co cemented carbide matrix were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). The results showed that there is a transitional layer between the diamond and the matrix, in which the carbon content is 62.97wt.%, and the content of cobalt in the transitional zone is 6.19wt.%; the content of cobalt in the WC-Co cemented carbide matrix is 6.07wt.%, in which the carbon content is 15.95wt.%, and the content of cobalt on the surface of diamond is 7.30wt.%, in which the carbon content is 80.38wt.%. The transitional zone prevents the carbon atom of the diamond from spreading to the matrix, in which the carbon content does coincide with the theoretical value of the raw nanocomposite powders, and the carbon content forms a graded distribution among the matrix, transitional zone, and the surface of diamond; after the 1280°C SPS consolidated process the diamond still maintains a very good crystal shape, the coated tungsten on the surface of the diamond improves thermal stability of the diamond and increases the bonding strength of the interface between the diamond and the matrix.