This study focuses on the fabrication of a WC/Co composite powder from the oxide of WC/Co hardmetal scrap using solid carbon in a hydrogen gas atmosphere for the recycling of WC/Co hardmetal. Mixed powders are manufactured by mechanically milling the oxide powder of WC-13 wt% Co hardmetal scrap and carbon black with varying powder/ball weight ratios. The oxide powder of WC-13 wt% Co hardmetal scrap consists of WO3 and CoWO4. The mixed powder mechanically milled at a lower powder/ball weight ratio (high mechanical milling energy) has a more rapid carbothermal reduction reaction in the formation of WC and Co phases compared with that mechanically milled at a higher powder/ball weight ratio (lower mechanical milling energy). The WC/Co composite powder is fabricated at 900℃ for 6 h from the oxide of WC/Co hardmetal scrap using solid carbon in a hydrogen gas atmosphere. The fabricated WC/Co composite powder has a particle size of approximately 0.25-0.5 μm.

Direct reduction and carburization process was thought one of the best methods to make nano-sized WC powder. The oxide powders were mixed with graphite powder by ball milling in the compositions of WC-5,-10wt%Co. The mixture was heated at the temperatures of for 5 hours in Ar. The reaction time of the reduction and carburization was decreased as heating temperatures and cobalt content increased. The mean size of WC/Co composite powders was about 260 nm after the reactions. And the mean size of WC grains in WC/Co composite powders was about 38 nm after the reaction at for 5 hours.

본 연구에서는 용사용WC-17%Co 복합분말을 분무건조법으로 제조하고 열처리 온도(850˚C, 1000˚C, 1150˚C, 1300˚C)에 따른 조립분말의 미세구조, 입도분포, 유동도, 및 결정상변화를 고찰하였다. 분무건조상태의 입형은 구형이었으며, 입도분포, 평균입자크기, 유동성은 각각 20.6-51.7μm, 27.2μm, 0.26 sec/g 이었다. 열처리에 의하여 조립분말은 치밀화되어 1300˚C 열처리 후에는 입도분포와 평균입자크기가 각 각 6.9-37.9μm과 17.8μm로 감소하였으며, 유동성은 0.12 sec/g로 향상되었다. 열처리중에 WC와 Co의 상화확산에 의하여 Co6W6C및 Co3W3C이 생성되었으며, 두 상이 나타나는 임계온도는 1150˚C이었다.