Rapid Sintering of Nanostructured WC-Graphene Composites and Their Mechanical Properties

The current concern about WC focuses on its low fracture toughness below the ductile-brittle transition temperature despite its many attractive properties. To improve its mechanical properties, the approach generally utilized has been the addition of a second phase to form composites and to make nanostructured materials. In this paper, graphene was evaluated as the reinforcing agent in WC ceramics using a novel sintering method (high-frequency induction heated sintering method). Highly dense nanostructured WC and WC-graphene composites were obtained within two min at 1550 °C. The effect of graphene on the grain size and the mechanical properties (hardness and fracture toughness) of WC-graphene composites was evaluated.