Dissolution and Precipitation Behavior of WC Particles in Iron Matrix Composites

Abstract

Different sizes and graded mixed WC particles reinforced iron matrix composites were prepared by powder metallurgy,in which Fe30A self-fluxing alloy was used as the matrix, and the cast WC and the WC-Co as the reinforcement. Microstructure and phase of the composites were analyzed. The results show that the cast WC particles are dissolved from the edge of the particles and react with the matrix to generate the flocculent Fe6W6C interlayer and disperse Ni17W3 small particles, and part of the WC-Co particles are transformed into Ni17W3 particles. The microstructural morphology of the mixed particle reinforced composite materials presents that small particles are uniformly distributed between large particles, and the small particles can be the primary particles or the Ni17W3 particles. The hardness and wear properties tests of the composite materials show that the graded mixed reinforced composite has higher hardness and better wear resistance.

Keywords

• WC particle
• dissolution
• metal matrix composite
• grain gradation