THE WC MICROCRYSTALS GROWN FROM THE WC–Co MELTS

Abstract

The results of the research on the growth of WC microcrystals in WC alloys – 10, 40, 50, 65 % wt. Co at a temperature of 1800 °C and isothermal holding for 10 minutes, and cooling in a furnace at a rate of 6 °C 1 /min are presented. It is shown that the largest WC crystals, larger than 1000 μm, can be obtained only from a completely molten alloy with a content of W, C, and Co atoms close to equilibrium. Microcrystals up to 100 μm in size can be obtained from WC alloys – 40 and 50 % wt. Co at ripening temperatures above the liquidus line.