Science of Hard Materials

This volume contains the proceedings of the first International Conference on the Science of Hard Materials held in Moran, Wyoming, Aug. 23-28, 1981. The objective of the conference was to review and advance the state of knowledge of the basic physical and chemical properties of hard materials and show how these properties influence performance in a variety of applications. To this end, the 49 con­ tributed papers and the four keynote papers by Prof. Fischmeister and Drs. Hintermann, Exner and Almond, present an excellent overview of the state of the art in the "science" of hard materials. The contents of these proceedings also reflect the fact that hard metal technology is now well matured and several aspects of the behavior of these materials are well understood and firmly established. Structure-property relationships in this class of materials are currently well known. Pitfalls in some of the traditional test methods have been recognized and new test methods are being developed which discriminate between intrinsic material properties and flaw content and distribution. Application of fracture mechanics, al­ though a late corner to the hard materials area (as compared to other structural materials), is rapidly gaining acceptance and new fracture toughness test methods are being developed. Application of modern analysis and analytical techniques to these materials has begun and entirely new and unexpected information has been obtained. For a variety of reasons, "hard metals" have dominated the research and development scene of "hard materials".

Conference Keynote Lecture: Development and Present Status of the Science and Technology of Hard Materials.- Fundamental Properties.- Phase Equilibria and Crystal Structures of Transition Metal Nitrides.- Phase Equilibria and Structural Chemistry Within Ternary Systems: Actinide Metal-Boron-Carbon.- An Experimental and Thermodynamic Study of the Co-W-C System in the Temperature Range 1470-1700 K.- Neutron Scattering Studies of the Defect Structures in TiC1?x and NbC1?x.- Electron Radiation Defects in TaC1?x and TiC0.97.- Defect Structure of WC Deformed at Room and High Temperatures.- Microstructural Characterization of Deformation and Precipitation in (W, Ti)C.- Indentation Damage in Tungsten Carbide and Tungsten-Titanium Carbide.- Crystal Chemistry and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy of Titanium Carbide Precipitates in TiB2.- Hardness Measurements in the Evaluation of Hard Materials.- Mechanical Behavior and Electron Microscopy Analysis of W2C..- Point Defects and Microhardness in Transition Metal Borides and ?-Rhombohedral Boron.- Microstructure.- Keynote Lecture: Qualitative and Quantitative Interpretation of Microstructures of Cemented Carbides.- A Method for Quantification of Discontinuous Grain Growth and its Application to Cemented Carbides.- Carbide-Matrix Reactions in Wear Resistant Alloys.- Binder-Carbide Phase Interactions in Titanium Carbide Base Systems.- Phase Transformations in the Binder Phase of Co-W-C Cemented Carbides.- Ion-Etching Techniques for Microstructural Characterization of Cemented Carbides and Ceramics.- Some Considerations of the Effect of Hot Isostatic Pressing on Hardmetal Structure and Properties.- Surface Treatments.- Keynote Lecture: Surface Treatments.- Structure Property Relationship of CVD-TiC Coatings on WC-Co.-Characteristics of CVD Hard Face Coatings.- TEM Study of Microstructure and Crystallography at the TiC/Cemented Carbide Interface.- Alteration of Surface Properties by Ion Implantation.- Improvement of Wear Resistance in Cemented Tungsten Carbide by Ion Implantation.- A STEM Microanalytical Investigation of Nitrogen Implanted Cemented WC-Co.- Erosion Behavior of Hard Surface Coatings/Inserts.- Mechanical Behavior.- Keynote Lecture: Deformation Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Hard Metals.- Indentation Testing of a Broad Range of Cemented Carbides.- Effects of Precompression on the Surface Toughness of WC-5% Co.- Extending the Use of Indentation Tests.- Some Aspects of the Fracture of WC-Co Composites.- Mismatch Stress Effects on Microstructure-Flaw Size Dependence of KIC and Strength of Metal Bonded Carbides.- A Study of the Fracture Process of WC-Co Alloys.- High Temperature Creep of Some WC-Co Alloys.- Fracture Toughness as an Aid to Alloy Development.- The Effect of Long Term Storage on Cobalt Used for Cemented Carbide Production.- The Influence of Thermo Electric Current on the Wear of Tungsten Carbide Tools.- Fracture of Carbide Tools in Intermittent Cutting.- Response of a WC-Co Alloy to Thermal Shock.- Effects of Microstructure on the Erosion of WC-Co Alloys.- Resistance of Cemented Carbides to Sliding Abrasion: Role of Binder Metal.- Abrasion Resistance of Cermets Containing Co/Ni Binders.- Adhesion and Friction of Transition Metals in Contact with Non-Metallic Hard Materials.- New Horizons.- Constitutional Aspects in the Development of New Hard Materials.- Preparation of Molybdenum Carbide with WC-Type Structure.- Preparation and Properties of WC-(Ni, Al) Cemented Carbides.- Structure-Property Correlations for TiB2-Based Ceramics Densified Using Active Liquid Metals.- Characterization of TiB2-Ni Ceramics by Transmission and Analytical Electron Microscopy.- Atom-Probe Microanalysis of WC-Co Based Cemented Carbides.- Low-Z Element Analysis in Hard Materials.- Neutron Diffraction Studies of Cemented Carbide Composites.- Continuous Tool Wear Monitoring in Turning.- Closing Remarks.