Abrasive wear resistance of WC–Co and WC–AISI 304 composites by ball-cratering method

• The effect of different binders on the abrasive wear of WC hard metals was studied.
• Stainless steel, with and without carbon addition was used as a binder.
• The η-phase present in the WC-10-SS composite enhances hardness.
• Relationship between hardness and abrasive wear was found.

In the present work, the effect of different binder materials on the tribological properties of cemented carbides was studied. Flat samples of conventional WC–Co, and newly developed WC–AISI 304 stainless steel (SS) composites with and without carbon addition were surface finished by grinding and polishing. Comparative experiments were performed using a ball-cratering tribometer. Worn surfaces were characterized by optical microscopy, surface scanning topography and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the abrasive wear resistance of the developed WC–SS composites is higher than that of conventional WC–Co and decreases with the carbon addition, in a direct relation with the decreasing hardness. The mechanisms of wear degradation are discussed.