Additive Manufacturing of Tungsten Carbide Hardmetals
Summary
Additive manufacturing of tungsten carbide hardmetals combines the exceptional hardness and wear resistance of cemented carbides with the design freedom of layer-by-layer fabrication. By employing processes such as laser powder-bed fusion and binder jetting, intricate geometries—including internal cooling channels and lattice architectures—can be realised without the extensive machining traditionally required. The key challenge lies in balancing rapid thermal cycles with the intrinsic brittleness and high melting point of WC-Co composites. Advances in powder treatment, pre-heating strategies and post-processing heat treatments have begun to mitigate defects such as porosity, undesirable carbide phases and crack formation. These developments pave the way for near-net-shape production of cutting tools, mould components and wear-resistant parts, promising shorter lead times, reduced material waste and enhanced performance in mining, aerospace and machining applications.
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Additive Manufacturing of Tungsten Carbide Hardmetals publication trend
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Technical terms
Laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF): A process that uses a laser to selectively melt powder layers, building parts with high resolution and density.
Binder jetting: An additive method where a liquid binder selectively joins powder particles, followed by curing and sintering.
WC-Co hardmetal: A composite of tungsten carbide particles bonded by a cobalt matrix, noted for high hardness and toughness.
Sinter-HIP: Combined sintering and hot isostatic pressing to densify materials and reduce residual porosity.
Porosity: The volume fraction of voids within a material, influencing mechanical strength and wear resistance.
References
- Additive manufacturing of WC-Co hardmetals: a review. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (2020).
- Effect of printing parameters on sintered WC-Co components by binder jetting. European Journal of Materials (2022).
- Additive Manufacturing of WC-Co Specimens with Internal Channels. Materials (2023).
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