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Strength, deformation, and equation of state of tungsten carbide to 66 GPa

Journal Article · · Acta Materialia
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [2];  [3]
  1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States); University of Illinois - Chicago
  2. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
  3. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
  4. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Here, strength, texture, and equation of state of hexagonal tungsten monocarbide (WC) have been determined under quasi-hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic compression to 66 GPa using angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction in the diamond anvil cell. Quasi-hydrostatic compression in a Ne pressure medium demonstrates that nanocrystalline WC is slightly less incompressible than bulk-scale WC, with respective bulk moduli of K0 = 377 ± 7 and 397 ± 7 GPa and pressure derivatives K0’ = 3.8 ± 0.3 and 3.7 ±0.3. This decrease in incompressibility with grain size is similar to behavior observed in other ceramics. Under nonhydrostatic compression, WC supports a mean differential stress of ~12-15 GPa at plastic yielding, which occurs at ~30 GPa. Strength in WC is anisotropic, with the (001) plane supporting 29-42% higher stress than stresses calculated from mean strain. Simulations using an Elasto-ViscoPlastic Self-Consistent model indicate that strength inferred from lattice strain theory may be overestimated due to effects of plastic deformation. Plastic deformation generates a texture maximum near $$\langle\bar{2}110\rangle$$ in the compression orientation, initially through prismatic slip on the {$$10\bar{1}0$$}$$\langle\bar{1}2\bar{1}0\rangle$$ and {$$10\bar{1}0$$}$$\langle0001\rangle$$ slip systems, followed by activation of pyramidal slip on {$$10\bar{1}1$$}$$\langle\bar{2}113\rangle$$ at ~40-50 GPa.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357; NA0003975
OSTI ID:
1830374
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1840908
Journal Information:
Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Vol. 220; ISSN 1359-6454
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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