Binder phase grain size in WC–Co-based cemented carbides

The binder phase grains in WC–Co-based cemented carbides are generally larger than 10 μm. We have developed a method for measuring this grain size using electron backscatter diffraction. The results indicate that a material that has a high carbon content, is slowly cooled, has a small WC grain size or has a small amount of binder phase will have a small binder phase grain size, which means that the binder phase was more easily nucleated.