Binder phase structure in fine and coarse WC-Co hard metals with Cr and V carbide additions

The large scale structure of the fcc Co phase as imaged by EBSD was affected by WC grain size and carbon balance with high W leading to larger regions of similar orientation than those with higher carbon balance. V additions increased the size of fcc areas of similar orientation while Cr additions reduced them. Both the effect of additions and increased W suppressed hcp formation with hcp suppression more marked in coarser WC materials than finer WC materials. It is intended that more information on the binder phase will aid future modelling and exploration of WC-Co hard materials.