In situ scratch testing and abrasion simulation of WC/Co

The results gave valuable information on details of how the damage observed was related to the WC/Co microstructure. A major mechanism of damage, clearly observed in the videos of the damage accumulation appended with this paper, was the progressive fragmentation of WC grains; the movement of the WC fragments could be followed from one pass to the next until they are finally removed from the wear interface as debris.