New graphite tools were designed and produced to fabricate a semi-finished product from which nine cutting inserts were obtained in one spark plasma sintering process. As a result, WC-5Co cemented carbides were spark plasma sintered and the effect of various sintering parameters such as compacting pressure, heating rate and holding time on the main mechanical properties were investigated. It was shown that WC-5Co cemented carbides spark plasma sintered at 1200°C, 80 MPa, 400°C/min, for 5 min are characterized by the best relation of hardness (1861 ±10 HV30) and fracture toughness (9.30 MPa·m1/2). The microstructure of these materials besides the WC ceramic phase and Co binder phase consists of a synthesized Co3W3C complex phase. Comparison with a commercial WC-6Co cutting insert fabricated by conventional powder metallurgy techniques shows that spark plasma sintering is a very effective technique to produce materials characterized by improved mechanical properties.
The microstructure and macroscopic properties of WC-50Ni+stellite 1(Co-Cr-W, ST1) coating layer fabricated by HVOF spray have been investigated. WC-50Ni powder and ST1 powders were mixed in the ratio of 1:0 and 5:5 wt.%, respectively. Argon heat treatment (Ar) and high-frequency heat treatment (H.F.) were conducted on the coating materials. WC was decomposed in the Ar heat treatment specimen, but decomposition of WC was not observed in the H.F. heat treatment specimen. Hardness was measured for as-sprayed WC-50Ni (821.5Hv) and as-sprayed WC-50Ni+ST1 (668.1 Hv). Hardness of Ar heat treatment specimen was reduced by about 14~18% than that of the as-sprayed coating layers. However, when the H.F. heat treatment was performed, the hardness inversely increased by about 6~10% than the as-sprayed coating layer. Based on these results, the method to improve the mechanical property of HVOF sprayed WC-50Ni+ST1 coating layer has also been also discussed.