Abstract

The densification of the compacts of Co+32%Cr+20%W+l.5%C, Co+32%Cr+20%W+3.0%C and Co+32%Cr+20%W+4.5%C sintered under H_2 gas or vacuum was investigated. The effect of V and B addition on the densification was also investigated. The densification of these compacts were always incomplete regardless of sintering atmosphere, temperature and time. The amounts of oxygen and carbon in compacts sintered in H_2 for 3.6ks at 1523K were 0.105~0.160 mass% and 0.33~0.89 mass%, respectively. And those in vacuum were 0.028~0.032% and 0.957~4.08%, respectively. Relative density(Ds) of Co+29%Cr+17%W+3.0%C compact containing 6%V and Co+32%Cr+20%W+2.97%C compact containing 0.03%B were 99 and 100%, respectively, indicating complete densification by solid phase sintering. Victors hardness of sintered compacts containing 6%V or 0.03%B were 632 and 568, showing 50~60% increase in comparison to those without V or B. These results can be explained in terms of oxidation/reduction of oxides and equilibrium pressure of CO in isolated pore, instead of presence of liquid formation and grain boundary separation from pores due to large grain growth.