Microstructure and Abrasive Wear of Binderless Carbides

The microstructure and the abrasive wear characteristics of two binderless carbides (WC–Mo 2 C and WC–TiC–TaC) have been studied. The microstructural analysis identified differences in the amount of mixing between the γ‐phase and WC. Mo 2 C and WC showed a large tendency to form mixed carbides, whereas WC and TiC did not. In both materials grain boundary segregation of metallic species was found. Compared with alumina ceramics and WC–6 wt% Co the WC–Mo 2 C material showed the lowest abrasion rate and WC–TiC–TaC an intermediate. The wear mechanism was surprisingly ductile for WC–Mo 2 C, whereas WC–TiC–TaC suffered from grain pullout of TiC.