High temperature mechanical properties of WC–Co hard metals

Understanding of the load situation and consequently the lifetime of cutting tools made of WC-Co hard metal requires quantitative data for thermo-mechanical properties. For the elevated temperatures present in application, these data are currently rather rare. The present work does discuss elastic material properties up to 1100 °C and compressive yield strength up to 900 °C, both as a function of Co content. The fracture toughness was determined as a function of the WC grain size and Co content up to 800 °C. Young's modulus and yield strength decrease with increasing temperature. A significant rise in fracture toughness was observed at 800 °C with increasing Co content and decreasing WC grain size. A possible reason for this increase is an increase in the plastic zone size at elevated temperatures.