The microstructure evolution during sintering of a compact being composed of three layers of (WC-15%Co)/Fe powder mixture with different Fe contents has been observed. The Fe contents in the respective (WC-15%Co)/Fe layers were varied by 20%. 50%, and 90% in sequence by volume from a top layer to a bot- tom layer. The sintering temperatures and times were varied from 110 to 125 and from 1 h to 4 h, The compact layer was not densified below 120 in 4 h. Appropriate sintering temperature and time conditions for making a multi-layered hard metal compact were determined as 125 and 3 h, respectively.

The effect of vacuum annealing on the oxidation behavior of milled WC-15%Co powder mixture has been studied. A cobalt component in the milled powder mixture was oxidized preferentially above 175 in air. The specimens showed a steady increase in weight at 175 but did constant weight followed by rapid increase in specimen weight at the beginning above 20. Oxidation of the milled powder mixture was significantly suppressed by vacuum annealing at 30 for 10 h. Suppression of oxidation by vacuum annealing and different oxidation behaviors of the milled powder mixture between 175 and 20, were attributed to removal of strain energy stored in the cobalt powder during vacuum annealing or oxidation treatment above 20. The role of stored strain energy on oxidation of milled WC-15%Co powder mixture was proved by X-ray diffraction method and differential thermal analysis.

The effects of Mn and Co additions up to 0.6 and 2.0 wt% respectively and the amount of cold-rolled reduction on the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of powder rolled Fe-Ni Invar strips were investigated. The compacted strips were sintered, homogenized and cold-rolled to the final thickness of 0.8 mm, 0.65 mm and 0.4 mm. All the strips reached full density except the case of 0.8 mm sample which has a very few porosities. The interstitials which are well known to increase TEC were minimized to the level of 10 rpm C,5 and N,0 by the processing. TEC was found to decrease by increasing the cold reduction. The Mn content had little effect on the TEC. But in Fe-Ni-Co system, TEC decreased with Co content up to 0.4 wt% and then increased, yielding the minimum value of at 0.4 wt% Co. This value is much lower than that of commercial Invar product. Such effect of Co is considered to be related with the maxiumum spontaneous- magnetostriction effect.

In general, the characteristics of plasma spray coating are strongly dependent on process conditions. In this paper, Mo and Co alloy coating layers were made by plasma spraying with different spray parameters and characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), hardnass test, and wear test. It was found that the coating characteristics were mainly affected by phase composition of the powder, spray distance, arc current, and gas flow rate.