Correlation of Different Cemented Carbide Starting Powders with the Resulting Properties of Components Manufactured via Binder Jetting

Abstract

For several years, researchers have been exploring the use of the binder jetting powder-based additive manufacturing process to produce WC-Co hardmetals. Compared to other additive manufacturing processes, binder jetting has the potential for high-volume production. However, due to the powder-based approach, the resulting green bodies typically have low green density, limiting the achievable hardness and requiring higher Co content. Choosing the appropriate starting powder and post-processing can extend previous limitations and allow the selection of a suitable powder based on the application. This investigation focuses on exploring and evaluating the correlation between varying morphologies of WC-Co starting powders, their processability using the BJT method, and the resultant mechanical properties of sintered components.