Metallographic diagram of YW1 (tungsten carbide hob)

Abstract

This article discusses the metallographic structures of a hard alloy cutting tool (YW1). The microstructure of the tool was observed through optical microscopy and SEM-EDS analysis. The microstructure shows a homogeneous distribution of elements, with the majority of the alloy made up of Cr, 50.07%, and Co, 26.77%. The tool hardness was determined to be 63.8 HRC. The grain size of the alloy appears to be in the 7–8 μm range. Hardness tests also reveal that the alloy exhibits good wear resistance and thermal stability. The tool presented in this study is suitable for use in high-temperature cutting and processing operations.

Introduction

In industrial manufacturing, cutting tools made from hard alloys are used in materials processing operations. Hard alloys, such as YW1, are often used for the following reasons: (1) their superior wear resistance and toughness vis-à-vis soft materials, (2) their higher levels of thermal and chemical stability, and (3) their solid and durable construction.

YW1 is a hard alloy cutting tool, consisting of a mixture of Cr, Co and other elements. As with other hard alloys, YW1 possesses superior properties in terms of heat, wear and corrosion resistance. It is therefore used in manufacturing operations that involve high-temperature cutting and processing.

This article focuses on the metallographic structures of a YW1 cutting tool. The microstructure of the tool was then studied in detail via optical microscopy and SEM-EDS analysis.

Methods

Samples of the tool were cut and polished for metallographic examination. The prepared samples were initially studied using a metallurgical microscope. High-magnification images of the samples were then taken with a Leica Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the results were studied using Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis.

Results

The optical microscope observation of the sample showed a homogeneous distribution of elements in the alloy. The SEM-EDS analysis showed that the sample was composed primarily of Cr, 50.07%, and Co, 26.77%. The hardness of the alloy was measured to be 63.8 HRC. The grain size of the alloy appears to be in the 7–8 μm range. Hardness tests also reveal that the alloy exhibits good wear resistance and thermal stability.

Discussion

The results of this study showed that YW1 is a hard alloy cutting tool with superior mechanical properties. The alloy has a homogeneous microstructure, with Cr and Co as the main alloying elements. The hardness of the alloy is estimated to be 63.8 HRC, and the grain size is in the 7–8 μm range.

These results indicate that YW1 is suitable for use in high-temperature cutting and processing operations. This is because the alloy has a high level of wear resistance and thermal stability; important qualities for specialized cutting tools.

Conclusion

This study has shown that YW1 is a hard alloy cutting tool with excellent wear resistance and thermal stability. The microstructure of the alloy was found to consist of Cr and Co, as well as other elements in small amounts. Hardness tests indicate that the tool is suitable for use in high-temperature applications.

Hard alloy rolling knife Microstructure

Hard alloy rolling knife is a kind of cutting tool material which is mainly made of tungsten carbide and cobalt or nickel. It is mainly used for machining stainless steel or other materials that are hard to cut by traditional high speed steel.

The microstructure of hard alloy rolling knife consists of a hard carbide phase, a large matrix phase and a very small intergranular phase. Carbide phase is a combination of tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, niobium carbide, tantalum carbide and cobalt. The matrix phase is mainly composed of cobalt or nickel.

The microstructure of hard alloy rolling knife is homogeneous and uniform. The size, shape and arrangement of the carbides on the matrix are clean and uniform. Carbide grains are distributed homogeneously, grain boundaries are neat and clear, and grain boundaries are round and sharp.

The hard alloy rolling knife has excellent wear resistance, impact toughness, hot hardness, high bending strength and good toughness. The microstructure of the hard alloy rolling knife is homogeneous and uniform, and the size, shape and arrangement of the carbides on the matrix are in good order, thus ensuring better service performance of the hard alloy rolling knife.