Effect of Grinding Body Shape on the Morphology and Properties of WC-10%Co Cemented Carbide

In this paper, raw materials consisting of WC-10% Co with the same composition were selected. Ball and rod-shaped grinding bodies were utilized to grind and prepare cemented carbides to investigate the effects of different grinding body shapes on the micro-morphology of the powders, as well as the morphology and properties of the alloys. It was observed that the WC grains in the alloys produced with various grinding bodies were randomly distributed within the Co phase, exhibiting typical shapes of irregular rectangles and triangles. After extending the grinding time, the grinding intensity of the grinding balls exceeds that of the grinding rods. This results in the occurrence of coarse particles and the generation of broken powder, which negatively impacts the grain distribution and properties of the alloy. In contrast, the alloy grains ground by the grinding rods are finer and more uniform, leading to improved properties of the alloy. The alloy produced by grinding with grinding rods for up to 40 h exhibits improved properties: a relative density of 99.6%, a coercive magnetic force of 129 kA?m-1, a hardness of HRA 91.5, a fracture toughness of 9.5 MPa·m1/2, and a flexural strength of 3565 MPa.