Rapid consolidation of nanostructured WC-FeAl hard composites by high-frequency induction heating and its mechanical properties

In the case of cemented WC, Co or Ni is added as a binder for the formation of composite structures. However, the toxic behavior of both Co and Ni and their cancerogenic classification in Europe and the US, the high cost of Co or Ni, the low hardness and the low corrosion resistance of the WC-Ni and WC-Co cermets have generated interest in recent years for alternative binder phases. In this study, FeAl was used as a novel binder and consolidated by the high-frequency induction sintering (HFIS) method. The advantage of this process is not only rapid densification to near theoretical density but also the prohibition of grain growth in nano-structured materials. Dense WC-FeAl with a relative density of up to 98% was obtained within two minutes by HFIS under a pressure of 80 MPa. The effect of FeAl addition on mechanical properties, consolidation and microstructure of WC was evaluated.