Novel cemented carbide produced with TiN_0.3 and high-entropy alloys

High-entropy alloys are suitable for use as a binder for cemented carbides duo to outstanding mechanical, oxidation and wear behavior. Therefore, high-entropy alloy was selected to replace Co and Ni metal bond in this study. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis show that CoCrNiCuMn high-entropy alloy is stabilized in the cemented carbide system. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) fractural morphologies of the cemented carbides added with CoCrNiCuMn show that CoCrNiCuMn distributes in grain boundaries, and the grains are bound tightly together. Furthermore, SEM fractural morphologies of the cemented carbides with 5 wt%, 7 wt%, and 10 wt% CoCrNiCuMn show that CoCrNiCuMn slows the growth of grains, which effectively binders the grains, prevents the generation and propagation of cracks, and finally, greatly improves the toughness of the cemented carbides. According to the results observed in the cemented carbides containing different amounts of CoCrNiCuMn, the hardness level gradually increases with the amount of CoCrNiCuMn; however, a reverse trend is seen in the toughness level. The cemented carbide with 10 wt% CoCrNiCuMn shows the highest toughness value of 7.05 MPa·m^1/2.