WC–Mo₂C–Co cemented carbides were fabricated to investigate the effects of Mo₂C addition on microstructure and mechanical properties. Dual hard-phase design using WC and Mo₂C was employed to optimize the balance between hardness and toughness. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) was conducted at various temperatures after ball milling, and 1300 °C for 5 min was identified as the optimized sintering condition, achieving complete densification and phase stability. The addition of Mo₂C refined the microstructure by suppressing abnormal WC grain growth through preferential dissolution of Mo₂C into the Co binder. Hardness increased up to 1769 Hv30 due to grain refinement and solid-solution strengthening, while promoted η-phase formation and reduced fracture toughness.The 27Mo₂C composition exhibited the most balanced combination of hardness and toughness. These results demonstrate that controlled Mo₂C addition enables dual hard-phase strengthening and microstructure optimization in WC–Mo₂C–Co carbides for advanced cutting and forming applications.

1. Introduction 
2. Materials and Methods 
3. Results and Discussion 
4. Conclusion 
Funding
Conflict of Interest 
Data Availability Statement 
Author Information and Contribution 
Acknowledgments
References

• 김송이(한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소) | SongYi Kim (Research Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing & Materials Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea)
• 한준희(한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소) | Junhee Han (Research Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing & Materials Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea)
• 강이승(한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소) | Leeseung Kang (Research Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing & Materials Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author
• 석진우(한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소, 경희대학교 신소재공학과) | Jinwoo Seok (Research Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing & Materials Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea, Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea)
• 김종태(한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소, 연세대학교 신소재공학과) | Jong Tae Kim (Research Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing & Materials Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea)
• 정주리(한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소, 연세대학교 신소재공학과) | Juree Jung (Research Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing & Materials Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea)
• 이빈(경희대학교 신소재공학과) | Bin Lee (Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea)