Modes of failure of cemented tungsten carbide tool bits (WC/Co): A study of wear parts

Cemented tungsten carbide (WC/Co) holds a successful past as abrasion and wear-resistant components in mining industries for their wonderful combination of very high hardness and good fracture toughness as well as comparatively extraordinary wear resistance. Generally, the tungsten carbide drill bits/blades are used in rock drilling, mineral cutting, gas oil drilling and even tunneling industries. The service environments of the WC/Co tool bits are terribly complicated because of totally different hardness of the drilling objectives at different working conditions, consequence various movement patterns of the WC/Co drill bits. As a result, the failure mechanism of the tool bits is quite different The mechanism of hole drilling and different mining operation and processes, a tool-bit gradually degrades till it breaks at the end of its life. Replacing a drill-bit once its breakage is often expensive in certain special applications. At the same time an early tool replacement decision could lead to cause of lower tools life. This type of claims is marking the ways that modify the accurate prediction of tool failures. In circumstances, where degradation signals using the appropriate features are utilized to make the tool replacement decision. Intensive investigation of the performance of tungsten carbide tools in hard metal industries and tool industries is being conducted worldwide. Tungsten carbide alloyed with cobalt (WC/Co) shows unique characteristics like high strength at elevated temperature and high mechanical and chemical resistance that makes carbide tools appropriate for cutting, drilling, mining and machining operation. A whole failure study is revealed within the paper. This study also discusses the failure mode of a tungsten carbide tools, its prediction and remedies. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.