Microscopic Characterization of the Thermal Evolution of Stainless Steel Coatings Sputter-deposited onto WC Particles

The hardmetal composites are generally produced from powders of tungsten carbide (WC) and of metal elements, belonging to group 8-10 of the periodic table, which are mixed together by wet milling. News processes, alternatives to milling, have been developed, aiming a higher uniformity of the metallic binder distribution in WC based composites, together with other technological benefits. One of those methods consists of the sputter deposition of metal binder onto the WC powder leading to powder particles coated with the metallic elements. The particles coating showed to be chemically and morphologically very uniform and possesses a nanocrystalline structure and improved surface properties, such as powder's flowability, pressing behaviour, sinterability and thermal reactivity.