Study of the microstructure and phase-composition of a WC-alloy with a Hadfield steel binder

The phase composition and structure of a tungsten carbide alloy with a Hadfield steel binder are studied using metallography, x-ray diffraction analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. It is found that tungsten carbide is dissolved in the binder during sintering. This gives rise to a nonuniform distribution of the alloying additions in the y-solid solution, which results in precipitation of complex carbides of the (W, Fe) _xC type having different crystal-lattice parameters. The volume fraction of these carbides is as high as 9-10%.