Influence of Additives of Nanoparticles on Structure Formation of Fine-Grained Hardmetals

This paper introduces a new concept of coated fine carbides modified by nanoparticles Al2O3, ZrO2 (inhibitors) as the starting method for improved hardmetals. The study involved computational and experimental methods to determine functional relationships between the parameters of microstructure, sizes, volume content of additives of nanoparticles and properties (transverse rupture toughness, hardness, fracture toughness) of the heterophase hardmetal composites. Factors having a positive influence on the structure of hardmetals are the decrease in the average size and contiguity of carbide grains due to SPS-consolidation and ultrasonic activation during mixing. The study of microstructural parameters by scanning electron microscopy in a combination with x-ray phase analysis indicates high statistical homogeneity of the relative distribution of nanoparticles (inhibitors) in the cobalt binder between carbide grains and the formation of nanostructured inclusions in hardmetal composites.