Friction and wear behaviour of WC–Co–Cr3C2–VC cemented carbides obtained from nanocrystalline mixtures

The effect of adding Cr3C2, VC or a mixture of both as a grain growth inhibitors to cemented carbides obtained from WC–12 wt.%Co nanocrystalline mixtures on the behaviour of friction and dry sliding wear have been studied. All the wear tests were performed on a tribometer with ball on disc configuration, using a WC–6 wt.%Co ball as a counterpart with normal contact loads of 40 and 60 N, sliding distance of 2000 m and a sliding speed of 0.1 m/s. A significant reduction in the wear rates was observed by the effect of the aforementioned additives, in particular for the VC, which showed an increase in the wear resistance of the order of 90%. The analysis of wear and surface damage were correlated to the observed behaviour.

► Tribological behaviour of WC-12Co-Cr3C2-VC cemented carbides has been studied.
► It has been proven that the presence of inhibitors reduces friction coefficient values.
► An important reduction in wear rates with the addition of inhibitors has been found.
► The addition of VC has allowed to increase wear resistance by more than 90%.
► A possible surface damage sequence has been established.