Internal friction in WC-Co hard metals☆
Abstract Internal friction measurements have been performed on various grades of WC-Co cemented carbides from room temperature to 1000°C. These composite materials exhibit an internal friction spectrum which is mainly composed of a relaxation peak and a high temperature exponential background. The peak appears in the same temperature range where an increase in toughness has been observed and interpreted as being due to a brittle-to-ductile transition of the material. The exponential background can be associated with high temperature creep phenomena. The analysis of the results obtained shows the important role of the cobalt binder phase in the mechanical behaviour of WC-Co.