Modeling the interface area aspect ratio of carbide grains in WC–Co composites

• The interface area aspect ratios are measured by the five parameter analysis method.
• The aspect ratio varies with the densification methods.
• The work offers a new alternative to characterize the geometry of carbide grains.

The average interface area aspect ratios of carbide grains in WC–Co composites are measured from basal-to-prismatic area ratios determined by the five parameter analysis (FPA) method. Grain boundary plane distributions regardless of misorientations indicate that the (0001) basal and 101¯0 prismatic planes are the most common habit planes, and the interface area aspect ratio is determined by the ratio of the (0001) plane area to the 101¯0 plane area. Additionally, the measured aspect ratios are found to vary with the densification mechanisms of the WC–Co composites. The work offers a new alternative to characterize the geometry of carbide grains in WC–Co composites.

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