Structure and role of the interfacial layers in VC-rich WC-Co cermets

The microstructure of WC-Co composites sintered with VC or with a mixture of VC and Cr₃C₂ is investigated by several techniques in order to understand the grain growth inhibition process. In this work, using the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution energy-filtering electron microscopy, we are able to study on the atomic scale the microstructure and composition of the phases present in the alloys. A thin (VW)C _x layer less than 1 nm thick covering all surfaces of WC grains and thin (VW)C _x platelets embedded in the WC grains are evidenced. Microsteps are observed at the interface between Co and WC along the ⟨11amp;2macr;0⟩_WC directions. Small (VW)C _x precipitates lie on the (0001)_WC and {10amp;1macr;0} facets of these steps. On the (0001) surface of WC grains, other stacking sequences of the metal planes are sometimes observed and, in particular, the occurrence of the compound (VW)₂C is shown. Owing to these observations a grain growth inhibition mechanism is proposed.