New binders, less corrosion - Durit results

The limited corrosion resistance of conventional WC-Co hardmetals remains a major challenge in applications exposed to aggressive environments. Responding to this limitation, DURIT has investigated alternative binder systems designed to enhance the durability and performance of cemented carbides operating under corrosive conditions. In this study, DURIT developed and characterised industrially relevant WC-based composites containing alternative binders such as Ni, CoNi, NiCr, CoNiCr, and NiCrMo, applied at different binder contents. Their corrosion behaviour in 0.5 M NaCl solution was systematically compared with standard WC-Co grades using electrochemical techniques, including corrosion potential monitoring and Potentiodynamic polarization testing. The results clearly demonstrate that these alternative binders significantly improve corrosion resistance, particularly the Co-free alloys, which showed superior stability in neutral saline media. These developments represent a major step toward extending the lifetime of tools and components, minimising maintenance needs, and reducing operational costs while promoting more sustainable material solutions for corrosion-prone environments.