SBIR Phase II: Functionally Graded Cemented Tungsten Carbide -- Process and Properties

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目旨在开发一种创新工艺，将传统的硬质合金（WC-Co）（应用最广泛的工业工具材料）转化为功能分级硬质合金（FG WC-Co）。与传统WC-Co的均匀结构相比，FG WC-Co具有更硬的表面和更坚韧的岩心，因为钴含量从表面到岩心逐渐增加，在不牺牲断裂韧性的情况下具有更高的耐磨性。这种机械性能的结合使FG WC-Co具有卓越的工程性能，从而显着提高了刀具寿命、可靠性和生产率。该项目更广泛的商业影响将是取代传统WC-Co在许多制造业中的应用，包括汽车和航空航天制造、石油和天然气钻探、地热能勘探、采矿、建筑和需要极端耐磨性的应用。用FG WC-Co取代传统的WC-Co刀具材料有望显著提高这些制造业的生产率。每年的潜在市场估计超过50亿美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop an innovative process which can transform conventional cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co), the most widely used industrial tool material, into functionally graded cemented tungsten carbide (FG WC-Co). Compared to the homogeneous structure of conventional WC-Co, FG WC-Co has a harder surface and tougher core due to a gradual increase of cobalt content from the surface to the core, which offers considerably higher wear resistance without sacrificing fracture toughness. This combination of mechanical properties leads to the superior engineering performance of FG WC-Co which translates to significantly improved tool life, reliability, and productivity. The broader/commercial impacts of this project will be the potential to replace conventional WC-Co used in numerous manufacturing industries including auto and aerospace manufacturing, oil and gas drilling, geothermal energy exploration, mining, construction, and applications where extreme wear resistance is required. The replacement of conventional WC-Co tool materials with FG WC-Co is expected to lead to significant productivity improvements in these manufacturing industries. The annual addressable market is estimated to be over $5 billion.