Effect of WC Additive on Microstructural Evolution and Properties of TiC Steel-Bonded Carbide

TiC base high manganese steel-bonded carbide was manufactured by powder metallurgy technique, and the effect of adding mode of WC additive on microstructural evolution and properties of the alloy was studied. SEM microstructure showed that surrounding structure appeared obviousely with WC additive; while microstructure of the alloy was well-distributed and particle shape was distinct very much. The shape of TiC particles became irregular with pure WC powder addition, and irregular with further increase of WC content, and the shape of some TiC particles became angular because of excessive reaction between TiC particles and WC additive. microstructure of the alloy was refiner and the strength, toughness were improved with the increase of WC addition. (Ti, W)C solid solution is superior to form on the surface of TiC particles through dissolution precipitation mechanism because the activity energy of WC was higher than that of TiC-WC compound carbides when WC was added in the alloy, and the particle shape of TiC became more irregular and the properties were improved significantly.