Fabrication of WC–8 wt.%Co hard materials by two rapid sintering processes

Two methods, high-frequency induction-heated sintering (HFIHS) and pulsed current activated sintering (PCAS), were utilized to consolidate WC–8 wt.%Co hard materials. The demonstrated advantages of these processes are rapid densification to near theoretical density in a relatively short time and without significant change in grain size. The effect of initial particle size of WC powder on the sintering behavior and mechanical properties were investigated. The hardness, fracture toughness and the relative density of the WC–8Co composites consolidated by HFIHS and PCAS were investigated.