Zihan Yang , Ruochong Wang , Huixia Li , Yafeng Yang , Yong Liu , Weiwei He
{"title":"Effect of WC on grain refinement of binder alloy in EB-PBFed CuNiFeSnTi/WC/diamond composites","authors":"Zihan Yang , Ruochong Wang , Huixia Li , Yafeng Yang , Yong Liu , Weiwei He","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the developments of deep mining and oiling, the rotary drilling bit encounter the urgent requirements of high wear resistance and structural-functional integration. In this work, EB-PBF (Electron beam powder bed fusion) was utilized to fabricate CuNiFeSnTi/WC/diamond composites for drilling matrix body. The dissolution and precipitation of carbides, and their effects on the grain refinement of CuNiFeSnTi alloy were investigated. The results demonstrated that the dissolution of cast tungsten carbide, resulting in detached cast tungsten carbide particles and (Ti,W)C<sub>1-x</sub> precipitates, refined the grains by the grain boundary pinning and heterogeneous nucleation. The EB-PBFed composites show satisfactory mechanical properties of 667.08 ± 20.51 MPa and excellent wear resistance properties at <em>E</em> = 36 J/mm<sup>3</sup>. The drilling matrix body made of CuNiFeSnTi/WC/diamond composites can enhance body durability and hence protection of polycrystalline diamond compact cutters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 107654"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903349","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}
Jianning Gan , Yunfeng Feng , Rongpei Wang , Keyang Li , Zhiqing Xu , Mengda Hou , Ruoyu Qi , Ming Zhao , Xiaobo Han , Jingyuan Zhang , Yuehuan Li , Baorui Du , Feng Lin , Daming Zhuang , Hao Chen , Qianming Gong
{"title":"Correlation analyses of molten pool morphology and microstructure of tungsten prepared via powder bed fusion additive manufacturing","authors":"Jianning Gan , Yunfeng Feng , Rongpei Wang , Keyang Li , Zhiqing Xu , Mengda Hou , Ruoyu Qi , Ming Zhao , Xiaobo Han , Jingyuan Zhang , Yuehuan Li , Baorui Du , Feng Lin , Daming Zhuang , Hao Chen , Qianming Gong","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strong textures are always the inevitable hurdles in achieving isotropic performance for pure tungsten (W) manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) or electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF). Intrinsically, the ultimate texture is determined by the characters of original molten pool and so in this work, the correlation between the molten pool morphology of pure tungsten during LPBF and EB-PBF process and the ultimate solidification microstructure was explored by experiments and finite element analyses (FEAs). The molten pool morphology of LPBF W was deep and narrow, being called the keyhole mode, and in contrast, the molten pool morphology of EB-PBF W was shallow and wide, being called the conduction mode. According to FEAs, we found that the direction of temperature gradient was generally vertical to the contour line of molten pool bottom towards the center of the molten pool surface. In the keyhole mode molten pool during LPBF process, due to the large depth-to-width ratio, the direction of temperature gradient, pointing centripetally from the bottom contour line to the upper center of the molten pool, changed sharply with the shrinking of molten pool during solidification process, consequently, the primary dendrites, initially vertical to the contour line of molten pool bottom, would collide with each other during their growing along the rapidly varying direction of the temperature gradient, and thus the unidirectional epitaxial growth of primary dendrites would be interrupted, which resulted in bowl-shaped grains and 〈111〉 textures. Differently, the direction of temperature gradient would change more slowly along the shrinking of molten pool during the solidification process of EB-PBF process for the depth-to-width ratio was much smaller in the conduction mode than that in the keyhole mode, so the unidirectional epitaxial growth of the primary dendrites could continue without frequent interruption, and thus typical columnar grains and <111>, 〈001〉 binary textures were formed in EB-PBF W. The results about the correlation of the molten pool morphology and the ultimate microstructure might conduce to find novel approaches for tailoring the textures of tungsten prepared by additive manufacturing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 107678"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146000675","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}
H.J. Jin , J.X. Fang , H.T. He , Y.B. Li , Z.L. Jiang , Y. Shen , X.Y. Zhou , T.T. Guo , G.Q. Yang , H. Li , M. Wen
{"title":"Microstructure and tribological behavior over a wide temperature range of TiCrTaMoSi-based composites fabricated via spark plasma sintering","authors":"H.J. Jin , J.X. Fang , H.T. He , Y.B. Li , Z.L. Jiang , Y. Shen , X.Y. Zhou , T.T. Guo , G.Q. Yang , H. Li , M. Wen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.107692","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, Ti<sub>0.6</sub>Cr<sub>3</sub>TaMoSi<sub>0.06</sub>C<sub>0.1</sub> and Ti<sub>0.6</sub>Cr<sub>3</sub>TaMoSi<sub>0.06</sub>-Ag-CaF<sub>2</sub>/BaF<sub>2</sub> composites were fabricated via spark plasma sintering (SPS). Their microstructures were characterized, and tribological properties were evaluated at 25 °C, 350 °C, and 800 °C. The Ti<sub>0.6</sub>Cr<sub>3</sub>TaMoSi<sub>0.06</sub>C<sub>0.1</sub> composite consists of Laves phase, BCC phase, Ta<sub>2</sub>C, and TiC, exhibiting a high microhardness of 1010 HV. In contrast, the composite containing lubricating phases is mainly composed of BCC phase, Laves phase, as well as Ag and fluoride phases, with a reduced hardness of 534 HV. Under a 10 mm-diameter Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> ball counterpart, a normal load of 20 N, a sliding speed of 10 mm/s, and a test duration of 30 min, Ti<sub>0.6</sub>Cr<sub>3</sub>TaMoSi<sub>0.06</sub>C<sub>0.1</sub> shows friction coefficient and wear rate that first increase and then decrease with temperature. The friction coefficients at room temperature, 350 °C, and 800 °C are 0.91, 1.23, and 0.81, respectively, while the corresponding wear rates are 23, 8.5, and 5.03 × 10<sup>−5</sup> mm<sup>3</sup>/(Nm). The composite with lubricating phases exhibits lower friction coefficients across the tested temperature range (0.54, 0.58, and 0.69 at room temperature, 350 °C, and 800 °C, respectively). However, its wear rates at 350 °C and 800 °C reach 22.9 and 30.8 × 10<sup>−5</sup> mm<sup>3</sup>/(Nm), which are significantly higher than those of Ti<sub>0.6</sub>Cr<sub>3</sub>TaMoSi<sub>0.06</sub>C<sub>0.1</sub>. The superior high-temperature wear resistance of Ti<sub>0.6</sub>Cr<sub>3</sub>TaMoSi<sub>0.06</sub>C<sub>0.1</sub> is primarily attributed to the formation of a dense composite oxide glaze layer that effectively protects the substrate. The prepared composites exhibit excellent wear resistance over a wide temperature range, making them promising candidates for the fabrication and protection of wear-resistant components under harsh thermal conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 107692"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146032956","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":"Preparation and characterization of WC-based cemented carbides with added V2O5 and Cr2O3 through spark plasma sintering","authors":"Yongkang Ma, Zhiwei Zhao, Wanzhen Qi, Qiujun Hu, Shijie Zhang, Xiaomiao Zhao, Shun Wang, Tongqi Shao, Jingke Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employs Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) combined with <em>in-situ</em> carbothermic reduction to explore the impact of vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) and chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) on the microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of WC-based cemented carbides. Nanoscale WO₃, Co powder, carbon black, V₂O₅, and Cr₂O₃ were used as raw materials. <em>In-situ</em> synthesis of WC, V₈C₇, and Cr₃C₂, along with alloy densification, was successfully achieved within the SPS furnace. Experimental results indicate that the carbothermic reduction reaction reaches near completion at approximately 1200 °C. Under the conditions of 0.6 wt% composite grain growth inhibitors(CGGIs), a sintering temperature of 1400 °C, a dwell time of 8 min, and a pressure of 30 MPa, the resulting samples displayed a uniform microstructure and exhibited superior mechanical properties, with Vickers hardness of 2163.8 HV, fracture toughness of 9.9 MPa·m<sup>1/2</sup>, and density of 14.45 g/cm<sup>3</sup>. The carbothermic reduction process of WO₃, V₂O₅, and Cr₂O₃ was simulated using HSC Chemistry software. The simulation results showed that the reduction of WO₃ was complete at the experimental temperature, while V₂O₅ and Cr₂O₃ only underwent partial reduction at higher temperatures. However, this partial reduction did not notably affect the preparation of the CGGIs or their contribution to the performance enhancement of the cemented carbide. The innovation of this study lies in the introduction of composite inhibitors, such as V₂O₅ and Cr₂O₃, which enhance the crack propagation path and significantly improve fracture toughness. This approach provides a novel method for optimizing the microstructure and performance of WC-based cemented carbides, offering both significant academic value and practical application potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 107606"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145748683","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":"Effect of the hot-wire laser irradiation method and a Ni-based alloy middle layer on mechanical properties and microstructure in additive manufacturing of WC–Co cemented carbide","authors":"Keita Marumoto , Takashi Abe , Keigo Nagamori , Hiroshi Ichikawa , Akio Nishiyama , Motomichi Yamamoto","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In fabrication of WC–Co cemented carbide, the mechanical properties of the fabricated object deteriorate in the presence of porosity defects and W<sub>2</sub>C, which is generated by WC decomposition. To fabricate cemented carbide objects without such defects, this study investigated additive manufacturing using the hot-wire laser method with sintered rod-shaped cemented carbide (WC–16 %Co). To evaluate the effect of the laser beam irradiation method on the fabricated cemented carbide, two fabrication methods were carried out: one in which the rod leads the direction of fabrication (the laser directly irradiates the top of the cemented carbide rod), and one in which the laser leads the direction of fabrication (the laser irradiates between the bottom of the cemented carbide rod and the base material). With the rod leading, WC decomposition was observed in the upper part of the object, where the laser directly irradiated, and many defects were observed. However, with the laser leading, the WC decomposition was suppressed, but the base material element Fe invaded the fabricated structure, causing a decrease in hardness. Fabricating a middle layer consisting of a Ni-based alloy to suppress the influence of the base material achieved a WC–Co cemented carbide object with a sufficient hardness of over 1400 HV without WC decomposition or any defects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 107624"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145748686","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":"Influence of machining parameters on the wear mechanisms of PCD tools during turning of tungsten carbide","authors":"Feng Kong, Wei Zhao, Linyi Peng, Ning He","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tungsten carbide (WC) exhibits high hot hardness and excellent abrasion resistance, making it widely employed in mold manufacturing, aerospace, and precision component production. However, its extreme hardness leads to severe tool wear during cutting, which limits both machining efficiency and surface quality. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of cutting tool wear and their evolution during tungsten carbide turning is critical for improving machining accuracy and tool life. In this study, dry orthogonal turning experiments were conducted on WC-15Co using a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tool to investigate the effects of machining parameters and material removal volume on tool wear from a thermo-mechanical coupling perspective. The results revealed that cutting temperature was more sensitive to cutting speed than to feed. Cutting forces were influenced by both material thermal softening and tool wear, resulting in a decreasing trend in the tangential force with increasing cutting speed, while the feed force initially decreased and subsequently increased. At low material removal volumes, the pronounced thermal softening combined with minimal initial tool wear yielded optimal surface quality at a cutting speed of 250 m/min. However, in terms of tool life, a cutting speed of 100 m/min provided a better thermo-mechanical balance, resulting in minimal wear and stable surface quality. Under high-speed cutting conditions (≥350 m/min), chips transformed from discontinuous to continuous due to thermal softening and the extrusion effect induced by tool wear, which adversely affected surface quality. The wear behavior of PCD tools was strongly dependent on cutting speed: at lower speeds, adhesion and abrasive wear were dominant, whereas at higher speeds, rapid tool failure occurred due to diamond graphitization, severe oxidation, and spalling of large adhered layers. This study elucidates the mechanisms by which thermo-mechanical interactions influence tool wear under varying machining parameters, providing theoretical insights and guidance for parameter optimization to achieve efficient and stable turning of tungsten carbide, with significant engineering implications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 107599"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145692691","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}
Yang Yang , Boxin Wei , Yunfeng Gao , Dong Wang , Lei Chen , Yujin Wang
{"title":"Multiphase design of (Ti,W,Ta)C-SiC-WSi2 ceramics via in-situ reaction sintering: microstructure-property relationships and high-temperature oxidation mechanisms","authors":"Yang Yang , Boxin Wei , Yunfeng Gao , Dong Wang , Lei Chen , Yujin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel (Ti,W,Ta)C-SiC-WSi<sub>2</sub> multiphase ceramic was synthesized via in-situ reaction hot-pressing sintering at 1600 °C, using (Ti,W,Ta)C and Si powders as raw materials. The introduction of Si generated SiC and WSi<sub>2</sub> through in-situ reactions, refining microstructure of ceramics. Grain boundary diffusion and (Ti,W,Ta)C<sub>1-<em>x</em></sub> particle migration promoted the formation of secondary intragranular SiC, constructing a unique inter/intragranular SiC-reinforced structure. The in-situ reaction product SiC exhibited specific crystallographic orientation relationships with both (Ti,W,Ta)C and WSi<sub>2</sub>, significantly improving interfacial bonding strength and crack propagation resistance. The TWT10S sample (containing 5.20 wt% SiC and 4.11 wt% WSi₂) exhibited excellent mechanical performance: flexural strength (605 ± 53 MPa) and fracture toughness (5.1 MPa·m<sup>1</sup>/<sup>2</sup>). The in-situ formed SiC endowed the material with intrinsic oxidation resistance. The 5 mol% Si sample achieved optimal performance due to the formation of a continuous, dense SiO<sub>2</sub> protective film at 1000 °C. This study provided a theoretical foundation for developing high-performance ultra-high-temperature ceramics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 107579"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145619618","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":"Rapid consolidation of cemented tungsten carbide via ultrafast high-temperature sintering","authors":"Daiki Akutagawa, Keita Ihara, Toshiki Sato, Tomoharu Tokunaga, Takahisa Yamamoto","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS) has garnered attention for facilitating rapid sintering by employing carbon felt as a heat source. In particular, the low oxygen partial pressure achieved by the carbon heater is effective for sintering carbides in a short duration. In this study, WC-11mass%Co was used as a model cemented carbide material to investigate the densification conditions and the resulting alloy microstructure obtained during UHS. A dense alloy composed of only WC and γ-phases was obtained using a dwell time of only 60 s by setting the sintering temperature (carbon felt current) above the eutectic temperature between WC and the γ-phase. Scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed a characteristic microstructure at the WC/γ-phase interface, resulting from the rapid cooling rate achieved by turning off the carbon felt current at the end of UHS. The presence of steps was observed on the WC (0001) surface, but not on the {<span><math><mn>10</mn><mover><mn>1</mn><mo>¯</mo></mover><mn>0</mn></math></span>} surfaces. Additionally, the WC<sub>1-X</sub> phase, a structurally relaxed phase, was not observed on the WC (0001) surface. However, extending the dwell time to 90 s led to the formation of numerous voids, substantially decreasing the density. The formation of these voids is attributed to localized current concentration within the alloy during UHS. To prevent current inflow during UHS, a thin alumina single-crystal plate was inserted between the carbon felt and the green compact. This effectively suppressed the current inflow, resulting in a dense alloy without voids. To ensure electrical insulation from the carbon felt is essentially necessary for UHS of cemented carbides.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 107582"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145619608","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}
Louise Rosenblad , Hjalmar Staf , Per-Lennart Larsson
{"title":"An experimental and numerical investigation of a material model for predicting densification of hardmetal powders","authors":"Louise Rosenblad , Hjalmar Staf , Per-Lennart Larsson","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the development process of new cutting tools, accurate simulations reduce both time to market and resources. In this paper, previously developed constitutive models of compaction and sintering are used to simulate the manufacturing process. Multiple variations of compaction heights and maximum temperatures in the sintering cycle are used, and simulated results are compared to actual experiments. The results confirm that good prediction of the spatial distribution of relative density is possible even for complicated geometries. The simulations can also be used to predict changes in the press heights' effect on the final product.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 107619"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749227","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":"Enhancing the performance of polycrystalline diamond compacts through controlled doping of carbon and cobalt","authors":"Jin-Yu Wu , Mei-Quan Chen , Jian-Hong Zhang , Kai Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The properties of sintered polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) are strongly influenced by the bonding types between diamond grains. A higher and more homogeneous proportion of direct diamond-to-diamond (D<img>D) bonds generally correlates with improved mechanical strength and wear resistance. Based on the dissolution-reprecipitation sintering mechanism, the extent of D<img>D bonding is highly dependent on the carbon concentration within the cobalt melt. Since the graphitized diamond surface serves as the sole carbon source, the kinetics of its formation and dissolution significantly affect the efficiency of D<img>D bond formation. In this study, we introduced additional cobalt and carbon powder into the diamond micropowder raw materials to accelerate the formation of D<img>D bonds, promote a more uniform microstructure of the PCD layer, and enhance the overall performance of PDCs. By systematically varying both the mass ratio and the concentration of dopants, we achieved tailored microstructures with improved properties. Experimental results demonstrate that the addition of Co and C powders effectively promotes the formation and homogeneous distribution of D<img>D bonds. The PDC sample with a cobalt-to‑carbon ratio of 2 g/0.25 g exhibited the best comprehensive performance, including superior wear resistance and thermal stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 107572"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145611764","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}