In-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction investigation of microstructure evolution in Cr-doped cemented carbide during high-temperature creep deformation
Journal article, 2026
This study investigates the high-temperature mechanical response of plain and Cr-doped WC-Co cemented carbides using in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (S-XRD) during electro-thermomechanical testing at 1000 °C under compressive stresses up to 900 MPa. The results show that the Co-rich binder phase in the Cr-doped material is exposed to higher tensile stresses during deformation than in the undoped system, indicating modified load partitioning between WC and the binder. Furthermore, the WC phase in the Cr-doped material carries significantly higher compressive stresses, reaching ⁓230 MPa higher compressive stress at the same macroscopic deformation compared to the plain WC-Co sample. These findings suggest that Cr-doping alters load transfer and phase-specific stress evolution, resulting in enhanced high-temperature deformation properties, i.e. improved creep resistance. This improvement is likely linked to solid solution strengthening in the binder and modified WC/Co and WC/WC interface chemistry.
WC-Co
Compression test
Synchrotron x-ray diffraction (SXRD)
Cr
High-temperature
In-situ
Hard metals
Author
A. B. Yildiz
Scatterin AB
Anna Böhm
Sandvik
I. Borgh
Sandvik
Abdalrhaman Koko
National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
Christina Reinhard
University of Manchester
Štefan Michalik
Diamond Light Source
Emil Österberg
Scatterin AB
Stefan Olovsjö
Seco Tools AB
Mikael Kritikos
Sandvik
Fredrik Lindberg
Sandvik
Jonathan Weidow
Chalmers, Physics, Materials Physics
S. Norgren
Lund University
Sandvik
P. Hedstrom
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials
02634368 (ISSN) 22133917 (eISSN)
Vol. 141 108016Towards understanding of high-temperature deformation mechanisms in Cr-doped hard metals by neutron scattering
VINNOVA (2021-03839), 2021-11-15 -- 2023-10-30.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Metallurgy and Metallic Materials
Areas of Advance
Materials Science
DOI
10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2026.108016