Computational study on grain growth in cemented carbides

Micro-grained cemented carbides are widely applied to the tools such as solid endmills and micro-drills. The knowledge on grain growth of carbides is very important for manufacturing micro-grained cemented carbides. In the present study, continuous and discontinuous grain growth in such cemented carbides is investigated using the Monte Carlo computer simulation technique. The Ostwald ripening process (solution/re-precipitation) and the grain boundary migration process are assumed in the simulation as grain growth mechanism. The effects of liquid phase fraction, grain boundary energy and an implanted coarse grain are examined. The results of these simulations qualitatively agree with experimental ones and suggest that distribution of liquid phase and WC/WC grain boundary energy as well as contamination by coarse grain are important factors controlling discontinuous grain growth in cemented carbides.