Nanostructured Tungsten Carbide and its Composites with Cobalt: Synthesis and Properties

Tungsten carbide (WC) is widely used in manufacturing industries because of its higher wear resistance property. The high hardness and melting point with excellent abrasive and corrosion resistance properties makes it most suitable for cutting tool industries. In order to increase the tool life efforts are being made to synthesize nano size WC powders through different techniques. In the present work WC nano particles were synthesize at comparative low temperature by thermo chemical route, and by mechanical synthesis route direct from the Wolframite ore. The synthesized nano WC powders were embedded in cobalt matrix and sintered. Cutting tool based on nano structured WC-Co particles will bring a revolutionary change in the development of cutting tool and also affect the cost of many other products related to the development of tool materials. The tool life is directly related to the size and distribution of WC particles in Co matrix. The reduced size of WC particles will lead more uniform distribution of it in Co matrix, which ultimately will lead to have more life time of cutting tool as compared to conventional material.