Dynamic hardness of cemented tungsten carbides

Cemented tungsten carbides are composed of a hard tungsten carbide (WC) phase held together by a soft, ductile binder phase, typically cobalt (Co). This study examines the role of the binder composition and content on the Knoop hardness at quasi-static and dynamic strain rates. Seven different tungsten carbide materials were tested: four WC-Co systems containing 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% cobalt, two with a chromium‑nickel alloy binder phase, and one “binderless” tungsten carbide. Quasi-static Knoop hardness testing was performed at strain rates of 10−3 s−1 and at indentation loads between 300 and 30,000 g using a Wilson Tukon 2100 unit. Dynamic Knoop hardness testing was conducted at strain rates of 103 s−1 using a Dynamic Indentation Hardness Tester over a range of indentation loads. All of the materials exhibited a rate-dependent Knoop hardness, with the hardness increasing by up to 60% with increasing strain rate.