Wear modes in slurry jet erosion of tungsten carbide hardmetals: Their relationship with microstructure and mechanical properties. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gant, A.J.; Gee, M.G.
• Is Part Of: International journal of refractory metals & hard materials. Volume 49(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 192
• Page End: 202
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Tungsten carbide -- Hardmetals -- Erosion; Heat resistant alloys -- Periodicals; Refractory materials -- Periodicals; Metallography -- Periodicals; Alliages réfractaires -- Périodiques; Matériaux réfractaires -- Périodiques; Métallographie -- Périodiques; Heat resistant alloys; Metallography; Refractory materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 669.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2014.07.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-4368

Abstract

Abstract: Hardmetals based on tungsten carbide (either with a cobalt binder or cobalt/nickel binder) have been subjected to slurry jet erosion, using silica sand or alumina erodent entrained in a water jet. Wear processes have been identified in a number of hardmetals and results correlated with conventional parameters used for assessing hardmetals (hardness, binder linear intercept, WC grain size). Results were obtained using two principal impingement angles; normal incidence (90°) and 45°, and were correlated with bulk hardness but the relationships that were found differed in detail from those for abrasion. Local microstructure, evidenced by electron microscopy on wear scars and cross-sections, appears to play a more fundamental role in the respect of material response to erodent impact, with WC grain size being a major determinant. The type of erodent used had a significant effect on material response; microscopic plastic grooving occurred readily with an alumina slurry jet, but was not evident in the case of silica sand. 3-D spatial analysis via a confocal optical microscope and also a non-contact scanning eddy current probe of wear scars have also used to characterise their shape and extent of degradation respectively. Highlights: Use of quasi-static and dynamic impact models for erosion Comparison of use of Palmqvist toughness and KIC in the above Role of microstructural variation local to impact events investigated