Application of CALPHAD approach in simulation of liquid phase migration of cellular cemented carbide

• The liquid phase migration during sintering is studied through the diffusion couple technique.
• The relation between the volume fraction of liquid phase and the mass fraction of Co is calculated by CALPHAD.
• The simulation of liquid Co migration is performed and compared with the experimental results.
• The results could be used in the design of liquid phase sintered cellular cemented carbide.

This paper presents the experimental investigation of the liquid phase migration and its numerical simulation by applying the CALPHAD approach. The liquid phase migration during sintering is studied through the diffusion couple technique along with electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) measurements. Based on the CALPHAD approach, the relation between the volume fraction of liquid phase and the mass fraction of Co is calculated for the WC–Co cemented carbide system. The information on the volume fraction of liquid phase could serve as the input in a numerical model. The simulation of liquid Co migration in WC–Co cemented carbide is performed and compared with the previous and present experimental results. These simulations could be used in choosing the suitable initial composition for raw materials of liquid phase sintered cemented carbide.