Novel polycrystalline WC-Co based cemented carbides and their properties

Conventional cemented carbides consist of monocrystalline WC grains homogenously distributed within a metallic binder matrix like Co. We developed a new kind of cemented carbide which consists of extra-hard polycrystalline WC particles within a Co based matrix. These cemented carbides offer superior properties with an increased hardness to fracture toughness ratio well above the commonly known cemented carbides. Using nanoscaled WC powder very hard polycrystalline WC particles with a hardness of up to 2900 HV10 were produced and mixed with Co. The new cemented carbides offer the same fracture toughness of conventional monocrystalline hardness with the same particle size but much higher hardness values.