Dissolution phenomena in the Ti(C0.7N0.3)–WC–Ni system

The dissolution behavior of Ti(CN) and WC in the Ti(C0.7N0.3)–xWC–20Ni system during the initial stage of liquid phase sintering is investigated. Based on the fact that all of the WC particles, irrespective of their size, are preferentially dissolved, the change in the particle distribution is described as a function of time and size. In this study, it is found that the dissolution of WC in the Ni melt is completed in a short time at the initial stage of sintering. In addition, the ratio of the specific surface areas of Ti(CN) and WC during dissolution remains more or less constant when the inner rim forms, which could be used to estimate the dissolution rates.