Ru-Containing Hardmetals: Experimental Studies and Thermodynamic Calculations

WC-Co cemented carbides alloyed with Ru are relevant for the hardmetal industry in spite of their high cost. These alloys are used in applications requiring very demanding thermal properties and good performance in aggressive and abrasive media. For some applications, it is difficult to find an alternative material that could offer a similar performance. Ru containing binders (based on Co, Ni, CoNi and CoNiCr) are analyzed in this work considering carbon contents covering the whole carbon window, and using an equivalent WC-binder Ru-free alloy for comparison. The addition of Ru modifies significantly the chemical composition of the binder which can have important consequences in aspects such as phase formation and grain growth, and also in the final material properties.