LAUSR

Abstract WC/Co composite is a standard hard material used for the production of cutting tools. It has both very good thermo-mechanical and wear properties. During the cutting, process tools are subjected to impact loading and gradual degradation due to high-stress concentrations. This loading induced deterioration is complex process still not well investigated and explained. Up till now the dynamic response of the WC/Co composite was analysed under dynamic impulse compressive loading [1]. However, the behaviour of the above two-phase composite under impacts conditions was not investigated in details. In the presented micromechanical approach the real material structure geometry of the internal structure can be performed including spatial distribution of: (1) WC grains and their dimensions, (2) volume content of plastic Co binder with their thickness, (3) system of grain/binder interfaces and (4) cracks initiated and developed during impulse loading, (5) possible brittle grains rotation. The results reveal the dependence of the microcracking processes and the stress distribution on impact velocity and presence of discontinuities in the Co binder and the interface zone between the binders and the grains. The microcracks system was evaluated by the damage parameter according to Kachanov, 1986 [62].