Evaluation of slip transfer through WC grain boundaries in cemented carbides

Abstract Geometrical calculations are performed to evaluate the resistance of WC grain boundaries to transfer plastic deformation in WC-Co cemented carbides. The interaction of dislocation pile-ups with the most frequent CSL and random grain boundaries are studied. Based on the minimum grain boundary residue criterion, ∑ = 2 and ∑ = 4 grain boundaries are more resistant to dislocation propagation than ∑ = 13a, ∑ = 97 and a large part of investigated random grain boundaries. Controlling the amount of ∑ = 2 and ∑ = 4 grain boundaries, which mostly arise from the powder, could help in tuning the material properties according the desired application.