Fatigue behavior of a WC-Ni cemented carbide

Abstract

Nickel is one of the materials most commonly used as a binder alternative to cobalt in cemented carbides. However, knowledge on mechanical properties and particularly on fatigue response of nickel-base cemented carbides is relatively scarce. In this study, the fatigue behavior of a fine grained WC-Ni cemented carbide is assessed. In doing so, fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior and fatigue limit are determined, and the attained results are compared to corresponding fracture toughness and flexural strength. An analysis of the results within a fatigue mechanics framework permits to validate FCG threshold as the effective fracture toughness under cyclic loading. Experimentally determined data are then used to evaluate the fatigue sensitivity of the studied material. Additionally, fracture modes under monotonic and cyclic load condition are assessed. Clear differences in fractographic features are discerned and discussed.