Studying the Microstructural Properties of Tungsten Carbide–Cobalt Composite Materials by Advanced Image Processing Methods

The effect of the microstructure of tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co) composites on their mechanical properties, such as hardness and wear resistance critical for cutting tools and drilling equipment was considered. An innovative method of microstructural analysis based on image processing was proposed as a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional methods like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The porosity and tungsten carbide particle and cobalt binder phase distribution were investigated by image preprocessing, phase segmentation, and quantitative SEM analysis. The results demonstrate a high precision of the method in estimating the key characteristics at an essential decrease in time and expenditures and make it possible to improve the quality and durability of WC–Co materials in industrial applications.