Carbon and Cobalt Diffusion in Liquid Phase Sintering of WC-Co with Gradient Composition

In this study, the diffusion behaviors of C and Co in liquid phase sintering of WC-Co system were investigated whether these two components diffused in the same direction in case of having opposite gradient each other with not being $\eta$ phase. The green compacts with controlled compositions in not being of $\eta$ phase and gradient composition which one is WC-5Co-1.2%C, the other is WC-XCo-0.2%C (where X = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25) were sintered at $1350^{\circ}C$ and $1400^{\circ}C$ and then the diffusion behaviors of C and Co were investigated by analyses of compositional change, also determined for microstructure and microhardness. Also, same testing was carried out on the specimens with dual layers sintered in upright and reverse positions to evaluate the effect of gravity on the diffusion in liquid Co. From the results of this study, we can find the fact that the direction of diffusion for C and Co in WC-Co system during liquid phase sintering was different and the effect of gravity for the liquid was insignificant. Also other physical properties were changed on the diffusion of elements.