Characterization of the serviceability of steel-bonded hardmetals

Mechanical properties of steel-bonded hardmetals have been investigated to characterize their serviceability as instrumental material for plastic forming of metals. The content of TiC in steel-bonded hardmetals investigated was 40 to 80 wt.% (51–86 vol.%). Hardenable martensitic steel austensitic steel and steel with intermediate structure were used as metallic binders. The study of different properties such as hardness, strength, plasticity, strain energy and fracture toughness of these alloys and the comparison with conventional WCCo and TiC(Ni,Mo) hardmetals enables one to recommend their application fields.