Study of Constitution Phases in WC–VC–Co Cemented Carbides during Liquid Phase Sintering Using Calculated Phase Diagrams

Calculated phase diagram of C-Co-V-W quaternary system was attempted to investigate constitution phases of WC-VC-Co cemented carbide during liquid phase sintering. It was found that VC phase could not exist stably for low addition region of VC over liquidus temperature of Co phase in (VC-20Co)-(WC-20Co) pseudobinary system. It was considered that the formation of (V,W)C phases was classified into three types depending on the additive amount of VC. For the additive amount of less than solubility limit of VC in solid Co at solidus temperature, (V,W)C phase precipitates on WC/Co interfaces from solid Co on low temperature side during cooling. In the range of additive amount between solubility limit in solid Co at solidus temperature and solubility limit in liquid Co at liquidus temperature, (V,W)C phase crystallizes out of liquid phase in temperature during solidification of Co due to the difference between solubility limit in liquid Co and that in solid Co. Above additive amount of solubility limit in liquid Co at liquidus temperature, (V,W)C phase exists in equilibrium with liquid Co above liquidus temperature. It was concluded that inhibition mechanism of grain growth was to differ at solubility limit of VC in Co liquid phase.