International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of fracture toughness of cemented carbides by coupling introduction of artificial flaws via laser ablation with quantitative fractography","authors":"S. Fooladi Mahani ,&nbsp;C. Liu ,&nbsp;J. Dong ,&nbsp;X. Wen ,&nbsp;G. Ramírez ,&nbsp;B.L. Liu ,&nbsp;L. Llanes","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cemented carbides are widely used in structural and tooling applications where high mechanical reliability is essential. Owing to their inherently brittle nature, fracture in these materials is typically governed by the propagation of microstructural or processing-induced flaws. Developing a robust and practical methodology for accurately determining their fracture toughness is therefore critical to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient performance in demanding service conditions. This study proposes to assess fracture toughness by means of a strategy that couples controlled introduction of artificial flaws via nanosecond-pulsed laser ablation with post-mortem analysis of broken surfaces through quantitative fractography. Two fine-grained WC-Co cemented carbide grades, differing in binder content, were selected to examine the proposed approach. Artificial microdimples, designed to control failure initiation sites, were created under optimized laser conditions and subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading in four-point bending. Fractographic analysis provided key parameters, flaw size and mirror radius, for fracture toughness estimation based on mirror-mist-hackle geometry. To validate the approach, additional measurements were carried out using two other methods: indentation fracture toughness and flexural testing of single-edge notched and pre-cracked beams. Statistical analysis showed that the combined controlled defect-quantitative fractography method yields reliable fracture toughness values. They closely match the reference baseline values determined by using tests involving specimens with well-defined through-thickness sharp cracks, and confirm the toughness overestimation often observed in tougher grades when implementing the indentation method.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107682"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Additive manufactured porous tantalum scaffold with diamond unit cell: Investigation on mechanical properties and fracture failure behavior","authors":"Guanqi Feng ,&nbsp;Desheng Li ,&nbsp;Xun Chen ,&nbsp;Yizhou Ma ,&nbsp;Jiaxiang Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaojun Ni ,&nbsp;Haishen Chen ,&nbsp;Dachen Zhang ,&nbsp;Xia Jin ,&nbsp;Jingzhou Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Additively manufactured porous tantalum scaffolds have demonstrated great potential for bone tissue reconstruction. However, research on the structure based on the diamond unit cell remains limited. This work fabricated diamond unit cells with porosities of 85.5%, 75.3%, and 66.3%, revealing a progressive enhancement in static mechanical characteristics as porosity decreases. The diamond unit cell with a porosity of 66.3% exhibited the highest performance, achieving a compressive yield strength of 42.2 MPa, a tensile strength of 56.2 MPa, and a bending yield strength of 49.9 MPa, with its compressive yield strength falling between those of cancellous bone (2–12 MPa) and cortical bone (100–230 MPa). Furthermore, fatigue strength rose from 3.5 MPa to 29.5 MPa as porosity reduced (with no failure up to 10⁶ cycles). The samples exhibited compressive strains of up to 50% and bending deformation approaching 180° without macroscopic brittle fracture, and no necking was observed after tensile failure. Failures primarily occurred at strut joints or regions containing unmelted tantalum powder in regions. After annealing at 1000 °C, the tensile fracture mode transitioned from quasi-cleavage to ductile dimpled fracture, indicating complete ductility. The annealing process reduced the maximum orientation density of primary texture directions {100} and 〈001〉, reflecting static recrystallization. Although the heat treatment effectively mitigated the localized thermal strains induced by additive manufacturing, its influence on the overall mechanical properties was relatively minor. The fabricated diamond unit cell porous tantalum scaffolds demonstrated mechanical properties comparable to human bone, showcasing excellent plasticity and mechanical reliability, thereby highlighting their substantial possibilities for use in load-bearing bone reconstruction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107693"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation between microstructure, phase evolution, and high-temperature wear resistance of HVOF-sprayed Cr3C2-NiCr composite coatings subjected to superalloy aging treatment","authors":"Pejman Zamani,&nbsp;Meysam Khakian,&nbsp;Saeed Lak,&nbsp;Mohammad Amin Amjadi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107727","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107727","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sequence of aging heat treatment for superalloy base metals and the application of hardface coatings pose significant challenges in the refurbishment of gas turbine blades. This study investigates the influence of an aging heat treatment of IN738 superalloy (845 °C, 24 h) on the microstructural features, mechanical characteristics, and tribological performance of HVOF-sprayed Cr₃C₂–NiCr coating. Microstructural and phase analyses were performed utilizing XRD, SEM, and EDS, while microhardness, fracture toughness, and ball-on-disc wear tests were conducted at room temperature and 550 °C. The as-sprayed coating consisted of Cr₃C₂, Cr₇C₃, and NiCr phases, whereas aging promoted the formation of Ni₃Cr, Cr₂₃C₆, and Cr₂O₃ phases through carbide coarsening and oxidation. These transformations resulted in a synergistic effect, leading to approximately a 20% reduction in hardness and a 50% decrease in fracture toughness, accompanied by a moderate increase in wear rate. At room temperature, the as-sprayed and aged coatings exhibited wear rates of 3.1 × 10⁻¹⁵ and 4.1 × 10⁻¹⁵ m³/N·m, respectively, whereas at 550 °C these values decreased to 2.0 × 10⁻¹⁵ and 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁵ m³/N·m. The as-sprayed coating exhibited predominantly abrasive and mild oxidative–adhesive wear, while the aged one showed adhesive transfer and oxide-assisted delamination. The findings suggest that the aging heat treatment of turbine superalloys should precede HVOF coating deposition to maintain the coating's microstructural integrity and high-temperature wear resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107727"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of mechanical properties and cost-reduction of potential orthopedic Zr alloys maintaining favorable biocompatibility through impurity utilization and microalloying","authors":"X.K. Liu ,&nbsp;Z.C. Yin ,&nbsp;S.X. Liang,&nbsp;Z.K. Zhou,&nbsp;Z.Y. Yuan,&nbsp;B.Y. Liu,&nbsp;Y.X. Guo,&nbsp;S.Z. Zhang,&nbsp;J.S. Zhang,&nbsp;X.Y. Zhang,&nbsp;R.P. Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107687","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107687","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Zirconium (Zr) shows great promise for next-generation orthopedic implants due to its excellent biocompatibility, low elastic modulus, and low magnetic susceptibility. However, it is clinically constrained by high production costs and insufficient yield strength. Herein, a novel “impurity utilization + microalloying” strategy is proposed to optimize mechanical properties and reduce costs of Zr-based alloys while preserving biocompatibility and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility. By leveraging the β-stabilizing effect of inherent impurities (Hf, Fe) in sponge zirconium (SZr) and atomic mobility inhibition by microalloying elements (Fe, Si, Mg), the brittle ω phase is suppressed in SZr-xNb-0.2 Mg-0.15Fe-0.1Si (SZNx) alloys, promoting formation of the intermediate β' phase (from β → ω transformation). Ultrafine/nanoscale β' plates induce precipitation and boundary strengthening, synergizing with solid solution strengthening from impurities and microalloying elements to enhance strength while maintaining low Young's modulus and good ductility. Consequently, SZNx alloys outperform Zr<img>Nb alloys fabricated from high-purity Zr (NZr) or unalloyed SZr in strength. Notably, the Zr-15Nb-0.25 Mg-0.15Fe-0.1Si (SZN15) alloy exhibits exceptional comprehensive properties: Young's modulus (E) = 58 ± 3 GPa, yield strength (YS) = 750 ± 18 MPa, elongation (EL) = 15.5 ± 1.6%. In vitro biocompatibility assessments show SZN15 cell viability exceeds 92% over all test periods, comparable to or better than clinically used Ti–6Al–4 V (TC4) and NZr. The mass magnetic susceptibility of SZNx alloys (1.27–1.90 × 10⁻⁶ cm³/g) is ∼50% that of TC4, ensuring excellent MRI compatibility. Most importantly, the cost of SZNx alloys is reduced by over 80% versus NZr-based alloys. This work offers an efficient, cost-effective strategy for developing low-cost, high-performance Zr-based orthopedic alloys, addressing the strength-modulus-ductility trade-off and cost barriers limiting clinical translation.<!--> <!-->.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107687"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146057556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Co addition on the microstructure and properties of multi-elemental NbSi based ultrahigh temperature alloys","authors":"Xiya He,&nbsp;Xiping Guo,&nbsp;Ying Li,&nbsp;Chenyu Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107732","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107732","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Five multi-elemental Nb<img>Si based ultrahigh temperature alloys with nominal compositions of Nb-22Ti-14.8Si-4Cr-2.5Al-xCo (x = 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 at.%) were prepared via vacuum non-consumable arc-melting. The effects of Co addition on the microstructure, nanoindentation hardness, compressive strength and isothermal oxidation resistance at 1250 °C of the alloys were investigated. The results reveal that the content of both the Nbss/γ(Nb,X)₅Si₃ eutectic and the Nbss phase decreases with increasing Co content in the alloys and Co addition promotes the morphological transformation of Nbss toward a dendritic structure. Meanwhile, the addition of Co promotes the formation of new polymorphs of silicide phases; the increase in Co content changes the phase fractions of the alloys. In alloys with 0, 1, and 2 at.% Co, the only silicide phase is γ(Nb,X)₅Si₃, but in alloys with Co content above 2 at.%, two other types of silicide phases (α(Nb,X)₅Si₃ and β(Nb,X)₅Si₃) also exist except for γ(Nb,X)₅Si₃. Furthermore, Co addition promotes the formation of low-melting-point phases such as Cr₂(Nb,X), Tiss and Ti₂Co between Nbss/γ(Nb,X)₅Si₃ eutectic cells and along the Nbss boundaries, which degrades the compressive strength at 1250 °C of the alloys. However, Co addition increases the nanoindentation hardness of both Nbss and γ(Nb,X)₅Si₃ due to the solid solution strengthening effect of Co. The addition of Co has no significant effect on the oxidation resistance at 1250 °C of the alloys.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107732"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146160482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Friction and wear behavior of NiCu-diamond composites fabricated by defect-controlled powder bed fusion (PBF) process","authors":"Ruochong Wang ,&nbsp;Yunan Fan ,&nbsp;Zihan Yang ,&nbsp;Weiwei He ,&nbsp;Li Wang ,&nbsp;Bin Liu ,&nbsp;Yang Lu ,&nbsp;Yong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107691","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influences of printing process on metallurgical quality and wear resistance of NiCu-diamond composites were quantitatively analyzed. The NiCu-diamond composite with low porosity (∼1.6 vol%) and low loss of diamond particles (only 0.5 vol%) was successfully fabricated, at an electron beam current of 2.4 mA, and a scanning rate of 1 m·s⁻¹. The wear rate of the NiCu-diamond composite was as low as 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ mm³·N⁻¹·m⁻¹, and coefficients of friction (COFs) within 0.02–0.05. These values represent a substantial reduction compared to the corresponding values of 43.7 × 10⁻⁷ mm³·N⁻¹·m⁻¹ and 0.18–0.28. The dense tribofilm formed during wet friction (in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution) hinders further wear of the substrate, leading to lower COFs and wear rates than those of dry friction. The PBF-ed NiCu-diamond composites show excellent wet friction and wear properties with COFs lower than 0.04 and a wear rate of 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ mm³·N⁻¹·m⁻¹.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107691"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146032957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potter orientation relationship: The key to the origin of {101¯1} α martensitic twinning and the unusual β precipitation in Zr alloys","authors":"Xinu Tan ,&nbsp;Yushun Liu ,&nbsp;Risheng Qiu ,&nbsp;Xuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Liang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiateng Ma ,&nbsp;Wangrui Ren ,&nbsp;Feitao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two types of orientation relationship (OR) Burgers and Potter can be observed during the phase transformation between the α and β phases in Zr alloys. In this work, electron back scatter diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were carried out to characterize Potter OR in the solution-treated and subsequently annealed Zr alloys. Our results reveal the presence of Potter OR between parent β-Zr and {10<span><math><mover><mn>1</mn><mo>¯</mo></mover></math></span>1}_α twinning Martensite, elucidating the unique variant selection of {10<span><math><mover><mn>1</mn><mo>¯</mo></mover></math></span>1} twins with in a single α-Zr grain in solution-treated samples. Significantly, a novel, non-stress induced, twinning mechanism was proposed via direct phase transformation based on Potter OR in Martensite. Upon annealing, the OR between β-Zr within the twinning Martensite and α-Zr retains Potter OR, independent of the element segregation at twin boundary. The occurrence of Potter OR instead of Burgers OR is attributed to the lower formation energy of Potter OR upon twinning based on our calculation. These results demonstrate an intrinsic association between Potter OR and the formation of {10<span><math><mover><mn>1</mn><mo>¯</mo></mover></math></span>1} twins, shedding light on the designing of novel high-performance Zr alloys.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107730"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146152749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructure and properties of spark plasma sintered WC–Cu–based in situ composites containing graphite","authors":"Tomila M. Vidyuk ,&nbsp;Dina V. Dudina ,&nbsp;Alexander I. Gavrilov ,&nbsp;Arina V. Ukhina ,&nbsp;Vladislav S. Shikalov ,&nbsp;Igor S. Batraev ,&nbsp;Sergey Yu. Usynin ,&nbsp;Boris B. Bokhonov","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107722","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107722","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, in situ WC–Cu–based composites containing graphite were fabricated from a mixture of W, C(graphite) and Cu powders by high-energy mechanical milling and subsequent reactive spark plasma sintering (SPS). The synthesis of the carbides occurred during the SPS stage. In order to investigate the effect of graphite concentration on the structure and properties of the composites, the W–C(graphite)–Cu mixtures with three different molar ratios of elements (1:1:3, 1:1.3:3 and 1:1.7:3) were prepared. The graphite not converted into carbides remained unreacted in the sintered compacts. The combination of mechanical milling and SPS resulted in the formation of unconventional microstructures. The Cu-rich regions of re-solidified material are located between the composite areas, in which the WC and W₂C particles are distributed uniformly. As the concentration of graphite was increased, the hardness and electrical conductivity of the composites decreased. The concentration of graphite in the composites influenced the morphology of the worn surfaces formed under dry sliding conditions. The WC–W₂C–Cu-graphite composite (processing conditions: W–C(graphite)–3Cu mixture, 15 min of milling, SPS at 980 °C) shows an attractive combination of properties: a hardness of 250 HV, an electrical conductivity of 25% of the International Annealed Copper Standard, a residual porosity of less than 5%, a coefficient of friction of 0.58 in a pair with a WC-6Co ball, and a specific wear rate of 0.6 × 10⁻⁵ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107722"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructure and properties of tantalum deposited by laser melting deposition using non-spherical tantalum powder","authors":"Jun Yang,&nbsp;Yanhang Shi,&nbsp;Liu He,&nbsp;Wei Wang,&nbsp;Guomin Le,&nbsp;Xinjian Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The elevated cost of spherical tantalum powder utilized in additive manufacturing significantly hinders the development and application of tantalum components. In this study, three sets of tantalum thin-wall samples were fabricated using laser melting deposition (LMD) with varying laser power settings, employing non-spherical tantalum powder as the raw material. The samples were analyzed for their scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphology, phase composition, density, hardness, mechanical properties, and impurity content. The findings indicate that the tantalum components produced via LMD exhibit columnar grains oriented along the deposition direction, achieving a high density of up to 98.7%. The LMD-fabricated tantalum components demonstrate moderate mechanical properties and elongation rate. This study demonstrates that non-spherical tantalum powder can be effectively utilized to produce tantalum components with superior performance through LMD. This approach offers a novel and cost-effective method for the preparation of tantalum components, which holds significant potential for the widespread adoption and application of tantalum.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107673"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design of novel sustainable cemented carbides strengthened by η-phase to replace critical raw materials","authors":"José García ,&nbsp;Andrei Chychko ,&nbsp;Christian Gold","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cemented carbide production is heavily reliant on critical raw materials (CRMs) such as tungsten (W), cobalt (Co), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), and ruthenium (Ru), which face increasing supply risks, cost volatility, and environmental challenges. This study presents a sustainable alternative through the design of WC-based cemented carbides reinforced with finely dispersed η-phase carbides. The η-phase morphology and distribution are tailored to substitute conventional γ-phase formers (Ti, Ta, Nb), allowing the replacement of Co binder metal, and minimizing reliance on scarce elements such as Ru. The resulting microstructures exhibit enhanced high-temperature strength, hot hardness, and fracture resistance. Cutting performance tests under severe thermomechanical loading conditions confirm that the new η-phase–reinforced grades offer equivalent or superior performance compared to conventional grades. A detailed Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) analysis demonstrates significantly lower environmental impact and material criticality, establishing η-phase strengthening as a robust strategy for developing next-generation, high-performance cemented carbides with improved sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107695"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146032955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}