Rapid consolidation and mechanical properties of binderless nanostructured (w,ti)c by high-frequency induction heating

Commercial (W,Ti)C powder was high-energy ball milled for various durations and consolidated without a binder using the high-frequency induction heated sintering method (HFIHS). The effect of milling on the sintering behavior, crystallite size and mechanical properties of (W,Ti)C hard materials was evaluated. A dense nanostructured (W,Ti)C hard material with a relative density of up to 99% could be readily obtained within 3 min. The ball milling effectively refined the crystallite structure of (W,Ti)C powders and facilitated the subsequent densification. The sinter-onset temperature was reduced appreciably by the prior milling for 10 h from 1200 to 1000°C. Accordingly, the relative density of (W,Ti)C hard material increased as the milling time increases. It is clearly demonstrated that the quick densification of nanostructured (W,Ti)C bulk materials to near the theoretical density could be obtained by the combination of HFIHS and the preparatory high-energy ball milling process.