Sintering features of cemented carbides WC-Co processed from fine powders

Since the last 30 years, the cemented carbides WC-Co are processed from finer and finer powders. Both densification behaviour and microstructure evolution along the liquid-phase sintering (LPS) are different for materials prepared from powders of micronic or submicronic size. The typical features induced by the use of submicronic particles - large contribution of the solid-state densification, abnormal growth - are presented. The major questions, related to the understanding of densification hindrance and grain growth inhibition, are listed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.