Optimization of Processing Parameters for WC-11Co Cemented Carbide Doped with Nano-Crystalline CeO2

Nine types of trace nano-CeO2-doped WC-11Co cemented carbides designed by orthogonal method were prepared. The variance analysis results show that the relative density increases with increasing sintering temperature in the range of 1400-1450 °C; the hardness is highly dependent on grain size of WC which is closely related to the particle size of the initial WC powder and grain refinement produced by nano-CeO2; the bending strength of WC-11Co cemented carbide with less than 0.15 wt.% of nano-CeO2 is effectively improved because of its effect on the decreasing of porosity and inhibiting the grain growth of WC and martensitic phase transformation of Co; the fracture toughness rises at the beginning then drops later if the particle size of initial WC powder is in the range of 3-11 μm.