Abstract
For the purpose of increase in toughness of coated cemented carbides, studies on the formation of binder enriched layer near the surface (BEL) were carried out.
It was found that the BEL having lamellar structure of binder phase was apt to form when the alloy was cooled in decarburizing atmosphere after sintering. The BEL formation became easy with higher carbon content of alloy, slower cooling rate and higher sintering temperature. The formation mechanism of BEL, which would closely relate to rapid liquid flow during cooling from sintering temperature, was in detail examined.
