Change of Microstructure and Properties of WC–Co Cemented Carbides as a Result of High Pressure and Temperature

The change in the structure and physicomechanical properties of sintered binding WC–6Co, and WC–15Co cemented carbides because of the action of high pressure (8 GPa) and high temperature (HPHT) in the Toroid installation is investigated. It is established that as a result of HPHT treatment at temperatures above the melting point of the metal binding phase, there is a decrease in the coercive force of the experimental alloys due to the growth of the carbide grain of the alloy. In alloys with a higher content of the binding phase, Co₃W, Co₆W₆C intermetallic phases, and oxide of the Co₂O₃ type are formed. The hardness of the HPHT treated WC–6Co alloy samples decreases due to the growth of the alloy carbide grain, and the hardness of the treated WC–15Co samples increases due to the formation of intermetallic phases.