Recent developments on WC-based bulk composites

In order to achieve improved properties and performance with WC-based cemented carbides, research efforts have been directed towards the development of nanostructured cemented carbides. With the recent development of ‘spray conversion process’ for synthesizing nanosized powders and the advent of spark plasma sintering technique, it has been possible to successfully develop bulk nanostructured cemented carbides, possessing improved hardness and wear resistance. On a different note, realisation of the fact that the presence of metallic binder phase is deleterious towards certain applications of WC-based cermets has led to a recent surge of interest towards the development of novel ‘binderless’ WC-based ceramics by replacing the metallic binder phase with ceramic sinter-additives. More recently, it has been possible to develop dense WC-based ceramic composites without considerable deterioration of fracture toughness in the absence of the metallic binder phase. In the above perspective, the present review focuses mainly on the recent research results concerned with the processing and characterisation of nanostructured WC-based cermets and binderless WC-based ceramic composites.