Abstract
The deformation and fracture mechanisms of WC–Co cemented carbide subjected to compression forces were studied by determining stress-strain curves, and by measuring the changes in terms of microstructure and physical properties of the samples. It was found that the microfracturing of alloys occurred long before the sample itself fractured. Stress-strain curves deviated from the equation “σ=Aεn” when the plastic strain exceeded about 0.2 percent, and a maximum stress occurred when the strain was equal to or greater than 1 percent. Stress decreased with increasing strain until the point of fracture. With the change in the microstructure, the density, hardness, coercive force, and Poisson’s ratio also changed. Changes in the structure of the cobalt phase was noted. The fracturing of the samples was caused by the boundary fracturing of WC grains and was not dependent on either the grain size or the cobalt content of the alloy.
