Experimental investigations and DICTRA simulations on formation of diffusion-controlled fcc-rich surface layers on cemented carbides

► Fcc-rich diffusion-layers produced by nitridation of WC-Ti-Ta-Nb-C-Co alloys. ► Layer formation controlled by thermodynamic coupling between Ti, Ta, Nb and N. ► 15 μm thick fcc-rich layers formed by nitridation at 1400 °C/5 h/200 mbar N2. ► Kinetics of fcc-rich graded layer formation modeled by DICTRA.