Study of the character of deformation of hard alloy WC-steel 110G13

Abstract

The methods of optical metallography, x-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission diffraction microscopy are used to study the phase composition and defect structure of hard alloy WC-30 wt. % steel 110G13 in the sintered and quenched states and their evolution with deformation. Deformation was done by compression. It is shown that quenching permits greater plastic deformation and strain-hardening of the binding phase without disturbing continuity in the thin layers between carbide particles. In this case, the load is transmitted to the carbide particles, and the latter are involved in plastic flow. Plastic deformation of the particles in turn makes it possible to simultaneously obtain high values of hardness, strength, and toughness in the alloy. The different stages of the stress—strain curves and the evolution of the defect structure are also compared as part of the study.