Synthesis, microstructure, and mechanical properties of WC–TiC–Co ceramic composites

A ceramic composite constituting the formula 78 wt% WC–16 wt% TiC–6 wt% Co denoted as the 78WC–16TiC–6Co ceramic composite was fabricated using a powder metallurgy process, by utilising commercially available WC and Co powders, and laboratory produced TiC powders. TiC powders were produced from machining chips of Grade 4 Titanium. Five different procedures were followed for the manufacturing process by altering the amount of the binding agent (stearic acid) and/or compacting pressure and/or sintering regime (temperature and time) and/or mixing process (dry mixing and mechanical alloying). Characterisation investigations conducted on the sintered samples revealed that stearic acid as the binding agent resulted in the decrease of the relative density while mechanical alloying (MA) induced finer microstructures. The 78WC–16TiC–6Co composites manufactured from commercially available and laboratory produced TiC powders using similar process procedures (including MA) exhibited similar characteristics in terms of relative density, hardness, and wear performance.