Influence of Different Shaping and Finishing Processes on the Surface Integrity of WC-Co Cemented Carbides

Investigation of four different surface-shaping and finishing sequences is carried out on the surface integrity of a WC-10Co hardmetal grade. The surface conditions include grinding, electrical discharge machining and grinding, followed by mechanical and dry-electrochemical polishing using the DryLyte® technology. The evaluation includes the measurement of roughness, residual stresses, the Vickers hardness, indentation fracture toughness determination and the damage induced by conical contact response. By scanning electron microscopy, a systematic and detailed examination of the residual imprints is carried out to determine the critical loads for damage initiation and development across the different surface conditions. The results indicate that the use of dry-electrochemical polishing enables the attainment of polished surfaces without any corrosive damage to the metallic binder. Moreover, it retains the mechanical attributes reminiscent of the core material, comprising 85% that were initially induced via grinding.