Influence of Corrosion-Induced Damage on Mechanical Integrity and Load-Bearing Capability of Cemented Carbides

Tungsten carbide based cemented carbides, often simply termed hardmetals, are established forefront materials for tools, structural components, and wear parts with stringent requirements. Several of the technological applications in which they used include exposure to chemically aggressive media. Under these conditions, failure induced under applied load may be accelerated; consequently, service life decreased. Within this context, work addresses influence corrosion-induced damage on mechanical integrity load-bearing capability hardmetals at different length scales, i.e., from 100s nanometers 1000s microns. Experimental data acquired by means nanoindentation, pyramidal, spherical indentation, as well sliding contact (micro- nanoscratch) techniques, presented. The attained results allow identifying guidelines microstructural design combined consideration corrosion service-like conditions. Discussion reported findings includes a critical analysis effects evolution microstructure-property-performance interrelations consideration.