Quantitative analysis of WC grain shape in sintered WC-Co cemented carbides.
The morphology of WC grains is examined by ab initio calculations, and by transmission electron microscopy in a WC-Co cemented carbide. Two compositions are studied to determine the effect of carbon chemical potential on the shape development. The WC grains are found to be truncated triangles, and the grain morphology is adequately reproduced by the ab initio calculations. The energy difference between the two types of grain facets is shown to be due to the formation of stronger bonds with more covalent character between low coordinated W and Co atoms at one type of facet.
Christensen
Mikael
M
Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden, and Göteborg University, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
Wahnström
Göran
G
Allibert
Colette
C
Lay
Sabine
S