Abstract

Growth behavior of two different types of grains, faceted and rounded, in a liquid matrix has been studied in the (75WC-25TiCN)-30Co system. Powder samples were sintered above the eutectic temperature for various times under a carbon saturated condition. (Ti,W)(C,N) grains with a rounded shape and WC grains with a faceted shape coexisted in the same Co based liquid. With increasing sintering time, the average size of (Ti.W)(C,N) grains increased continuously and very large WC grains appeared. The growth of rounded (Ti,W)(C,N) grains followed a cubic law, r3-r3_0=kt, where r is the average size of the grains, r_0 the initial average size, k the proportionality constant and t the sintering time. indicating a diffusion-controlled growth. On the other hand, the growth of the faceted WC grains resulted in a bimodal grain size distribution, showing an abnormal grain growth. These observations show that the growth behavior of different types of grains is governed by their shape, faceted or rounded, even in the same liquid matrix.

• Keywords: grain growth;liquid-phase sintering;TiCN;WC;