Creep deformation of WC hardmetals with Fe-based binders

Fe is a candidate to replace Co in WC hardmetals, due its lower cost and toxicity. Here, WC-FeCr hardmetal was compression tested at 900–1200 °C. Particular attention paid the steady-state creep rates stress-exponents (n) during isostress treatments. Three regimes of n are observed. Two these were previously reported for WC-Co: power law (n ≈ 3) stresses below ~100 MPa; grain boundary sliding 1) higher stresses. A unreported regime very low (<10 MPa), with an exponent 2, also By combining electron microscopy X-ray diffraction texture measurements, stress attributed viscous flow binder, which accommodated by diffusional skeleton. The mechanism may be applicable other hardmetals. Compared analogous WC-Co materials, shows improved resistance 1000 °C, can explained self-diffusivity, solubility than Co. However, temperatures corresponding liquid eutectic formation (~1140 °C), becomes inferior. These results indicate FeCr suitable replacement provided temperature not exceeded.