High temperature residual stress and micromechanics of WC-Ni cemented carbides

Cemented carbides, known as hardmetals, are composite materials prized for their outstanding hardness, strength, and wear resistance. They find wide applications in manufacturing tools and various industrial components. Traditionally, cobalt has been the main metallic binder, but due to its toxicity and high cost, nickel alloys are emerging as viable alternatives,
Undestianding the degradation phenomena is key to enhance performance. This is especially critical at the microscale, where defects can lead to component failure. Residual stresses resulting from thermal expansion differences between constituents play a crucial role in the micromechanical behavior of these materials. Neutron diffraction, particularly with high atomic number materials like tungsten, is the preferred technique for measuring such stresses.
We have developed a FEM model, based on realistic microstructure reconstructions obtained through FIB tomography, to accurately model thermal stresses and strain partition. However, real-world applications often expose cutting tools to elevated temperatures, which necessitates a specific level of toughness and fatigue resistance. The proposal seeks to use Engin-X neutron diffraction to explore strain partition in a WC-10wt%Ni sample under compressive load at high temperatures. The resulting data will be integrated with the micromechanical model of residual stresses, offering valuable insights into material behavior and potential areas of improvement.