Novel cermet material of WC/multi-element alloy

•WC grains of WC/Al0.5CrCoCuFeNi composite exhibit discontinuous grain growth that were relatively slow during the sintering process.•WC grain growth can be considerable inhibited by the multi-element alloy.•WC particles were dispersed homogeneously in ductile multi-element alloy without formation of second phase.•The WC/multi-element alloy composite has higher fracture toughness than commercial WC/Co composites with the same hardness.

Multi-element alloy “Al0.5CoCrCuFeNi” is a brand new novel metal material. It has high working hardness, high high-temperature strength, and anti-oxidation properties. Multi-element alloy powders can be prepared by blending various pure metal powders using a mechanical alloying method. Different ratios of WC and multi-element alloys can be sequentially mixed and alloyed using a mechanical alloying method. WC particles were dispersed homogeneously in ductile multi-element alloy without forming any second phase. After press forming, the admixed powders were debound at 500 °C and then liquid-phase sintered at 1300–1450 °C. The sintering process of WC/Al0.5CoCrCuFeNi multi-element alloy is similar to the traditional WC/Co. The hardness of the sintering body of WC/Al0.5CoCrCuFeNi alloy is Hv 200–300 higher than the traditional WC/Co sintering body measured at room temperature. Its high-temperature hardness is Hv 200 higher than the traditional WC/Co measured at 900 °C. Substitution of multi-element alloy for Co as the base phase can enormously improve the material properties of WC super-hard composite material.