Highly Oriented Graphite Layer Obtained on WC-Co by Laser Modification

The surface of WC sintered with Co binder (WC-Co) was modified by one pulse of 5 ms irradiation using an Nd:YAG laser in Ar, CO2 and air atmospheres. At the irradiated area on the surface of the sample, the color of the surface was different from that of the nonirradiated area, with the occurrence of 40 mu m surface swelling. In addition, Raman spectra indicated a sharp and intense peak at 1580 cm-1, suggesting the presence of well-crystallized graphite. XRD revealed the existence of clear (002), (004) and (006) diffraction lines which are attributable to graphite. 9 refs.