Structure sensitivity of wear resistance of hardmetals

The influence of the structure of hardmetals of two classes, tungsten carbide-base cobalt bonded and titanium carbide-base steel bonded, in two different wear conditions, erosive and adhesive wear, has been investigated. It has been shown that the wear resistance is much more structure sensitive than any single mechanical property. The structure sensitivity of adhesive wear is much higher than that of erosive and this is related to differences in stress-strain states and fracture mechanics during wear. At equal levels of hardness and approximately equal levels of strength, the adhesive wear resistance of TiC-base steel bonded hardmetals (on the contrary to their resistance to erosion) is as good as that of conventional WC-base cobalt bonded hardmetals. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.