Application of Plasticizers Octadecane to Pentatriacontane and Ethylene Glycol in the Manufacture of Metaloceramic Alloys

The study aimed to investigate the impact of plasticizers on the properties of metal-ceramic hard alloys and develop recommendations for optimizing their composition, concentration, and production process parameters.WC8 alloy powder containing 8% cobalt binder and varying tungsten carbide grain sizes (2.5-8 m) was used.Plasticizers tested included paraffin and polyethylene glycol (PEG) in concentrations of 1-3%.Powder mixtures were pressed under high pressure and subjected to vacuum-compression sintering.Mechanical properties such as bending strength, hardness, and density were analyzed using standard measurement techniques.Plasticizers improved the flowability of powder mixtures and the quality of pressing.Paraffin at concentrations of 1-2% provided the best results, achieving a bending strength of 2030 MPa, a density of 14.8 g/cm, and a hardness of 88 HRA.PEG showed lower performance due to increased porosity, especially at concentrations of 3%.Reducing tungsten carbide grain size to 2.5 m further enhanced the mechanical properties of the alloys.Optimal plasticizer concentrations for sintering hard alloys under vacuum-compression conditions were established for the first time.It was determined that paraffin is more effective in forming a homogeneous material structure compared to PEG.The results can be applied in the production of hard alloys for various industries, including mechanical engineering, metallurgy, aerospace, and defense, ensuring improved product quality and reliability.