Indentation fracture of WC-Co cermets

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 1873 - 1882
• Main Authors: SHETTY, D. K, WRIGHT, I. G, MINCER, P. N, CLAUER, A. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-05-1985
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Metals. Metallurgy; Powder metallurgy. Composite materials; Production techniques; Cermet; Tungsten Carbides; Vickers test; Models; Fracture; Fracture(mechanics); Crack
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00555296

Indentation fracture of a series of well-characterized WC--Co cermets (K-701, K-703, T-060, WC--5.1Co, WC--7.6Co, WC--10.1Co) was studied with a Vickers diamond pyramid indenter. The resulting crack length--indentation load data were analysed in terms of relations characteristic of radial (Palmqvist) and fully developed radial/median (half-penny) crack geometries. The radial crack model gave a better fit to the data on all the alloys studied. Crack shapes determined by repeated surface polishing confirmed the radial nature of the cracks. An indentation fracture mechanics analysis based on the assumption of a wedge-loaded crack is shown to be consistent with the observed linear relation between the radial crack length and the indentation load. The analysis also predicts a simple relation among the fracture toughness (K sub Ic ), the Palmqvist toughness (W) and the hardness (H) of the WC--Co alloys. 30 ref.--AA