- HardnessThe hardness of the material is defined as the ability to fight against the hard-pressed surface of the object, mainly using measurements of Rockwell and Vickers. As the principles of the Vickers and Rockwell tests are different, care must be taken when converting from one system to the other.
- Coercive Field StrengthCoercive Field Strength is a measure of the residual magnetism in the hysteresis loop when the Cobalt(Co) binder in the grade of cemented carbide is magnetized and then demagnetized. It can be used to assess the status of alloy organization. The finer the grain size of the carbide phase the higher will be the coercive force value.
- Magnetic SaturationMagnetic Saturation: is the ratio of magnetic intensity to quality. Magnetic Saturation measurements on the Cobalt(Co) binder phase in cemented carbide are used by the industry to evaluate its composition. Low Magnetic Saturation values indicate a low carbon level and/or the presence of Eta-Phase Carbides. High Magnetic Saturation values indicate the presence of 'free-carbon' or Graphite.
- DensityThe Density(specific gravity) of a material is the ratio of its mass to its volume. It is measured using a water displacement technique. Cemented carbide density decreases linearly with increasing Cobalt content for the Wc-Co grades.
- Transverse Rupture StrengthTransverse Rupture Strength(TRS) is the ability of a material to resist bending, measured at the breaking point of a material in a standard three-point bend test.
- Metallographic AnalysisCobalt Lakes will bond after sintering, excess cobalt may exist in certain area of the structure, forming the cobalt pool; If the bonding phase is incompletely adhesive, there will be some residual pores. Cobalt pools and porosity can be detected by using a metallographic microscope.
