Hardmetal is usually processed by the conventional powder technology techniques: mix of WC + Co powders, compacting, and liquid phase sintering. A new method to process hardmetal parts are described here. Parts of WC/10%wt Co were processed by using high pressure and high temperature sintering. It was used the pressure of 5GPa, temperatures of 1200, 1300, and 1400ºC, and times of 1and 2 minutes of sintering. The best results was density =95,5%, hardness HV45 =10GPa and fracture toughness of K Ic =11MPa.m½.
HPHT sintering; hardmetal; hardness; fracture toughness
