Detection of thin intergranular cobalt layers in WC-Co composites by lattice imaging

Abstract

Much discussion has taken place concerning the contiguity of the carbide phase in sintered WC-Co composites. In the present study, the lattice fringe imaging technique was used to demonstrate that WC grains which appear macroscopically contiguous are sometimes truly so at the atomic level. In other instances, they are separated by films of cobalt ~1 nm thick.