Improved comprehensive mechanical properties of oscillatory pressure sintered WC-ZrO2-Al2O3 ceramics with VC/Cr3C2 addition

To optimize the microstructure and comprehensive mechanical properties of WC-based ceramics, the addition of grain growth inhibitors was an important and effective approach. The effect of VC/Cr3C2 addition on the densification behavior, microstructural evolution, comprehensive mechanical properties of WC-based ceramics fabricated by oscillatory pressure sintering was investigated in this work. The introduction of VC/Cr3C2 signif-icantly controlled the size of WC grains and regulated the distributed uniformity of ZrO2 and Al2O3 grains in the WC matrix. When the added contents of VC and Cr3C2 were 0.2 wt% and 0.8 wt% respectively, WC-based ce-ramics with the best comprehensive mechanical properties were achieved, in which their Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength were up to 29.15 GPa, 8.37 MPa m1/2 and 1513 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, the enhancement of mechanical properties was mainly attributed to the grain refining strength-ening, the transformation of fracture modes and dislocation toughening.