Nanoindentation mapping of cemented carbides: Microstructure-property analysis through statistical cluster extraction

Cemented carbides are composite materials with exceptional mechanical properties derived from their unique microstructure. However, raw material limitations pose a significant challenge to research in this field. Consequently, investigation has been driven towards alternative phases, such as high-entropy carbides (HECs) and alternative processing routes, including additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. The main objective of this study is to explore the micromechanical response of four distinct cemented carbide grades: press-and-sintered (PS) and Binder Jetting (BJT) WC-Co samples, together with two HEC-based systems, with Co and Ni as binders. The mechanical property data was obtained by means of high-speed nanoindentation mapping (HSNM), thus facilitating correlation between microstructure and local mechanical behaviour. Regarding statistical analysis, the Skew-Normal Mixture (Sk-M) model was used to interpret the HSNM data. The results provided detailed insights into phase mechanical properties, phase volume quantification and their microstructural representation, proving how useful it can be as a "mechanical microscopy" tool.