Abstract
We developed a process for fabrication of new WC-Co base cemented carbides with highly oriented plate-like triangular prismatic WC grains. The characteristic of the fabrication process is that W +graphite mixed powder is used as the starting material for WC phase, instead of WC powder; the other fabrication conditions are the same as conventional ones. A large amount of triangular planes, i.e., (0001) crystal planes of WC grains in the sintered alloy were highly oriented vertically to the powder die-compaction direction. The new alloy showed generally higher fracture toughness and transverse-rupture strength than conventional alloy at an identical Co content, mean free path of binder phase or hardness, especially when the crack propagation direction is parallel or vertical to the powder diepressing direction.
