Applications of recycled hardmetal powder

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the study of hardmetal powders of different particle shape, produced from used hardmetal by a mechanical disintegrator milling technology. The WC-15Co hardmetal powder of 0.2 to 0.5 mm with angular and round particle shape has been investigated. Particle granularity is characterized by the mean particle size and the angularity of milled powders is described by the so-called "spike parameter". The influence of the hardmetal particle angularity on the erosion rate of different metallic materials has been determined. The experiments showed that this parameter is crucial in abrasive particle shape characterization. The wear resistance of composite coatings, based on self-fluxing alloy and hardmetal powders of different particle shape, was studied. These coatings showed minimal difference in their wear resistance.