Product development of tungsten carbide scraps

Abstract

This research is to study the approach for producing the hard materials part by using tungsten carbide powder. The tungsten carbide powder derived from Tungsten scraps recycle processes which are Insert tools scraps, the waste of metal removal process, or derived from usage of machining on machine tools which are the production of metal powder by recovering cemented carbide to tungsten carbide powder and bring it to recycle. The first experiment of this research starts with the production of pure tungsten carbide powder in order to produce the hard metal part how to possibly produce the durable part or hard materials. Preparing tungsten carbide powder which pulverized and mixed with Cobalt co-binder less than 17%, so that molding with the pressure 300 Mpa and sintering at 1430 degree Celsius to the cemented carbide part in Insert tools type, rectangle, SNMG standard 120408 for turning. The result is found that the Insert tools have hardness about 1,385 HV and density 13.45 g/cm3 and then, they are tested to machine specimens in AISI 1045 type. The developed Insert tools can be machining metal removal them as well as the imported Insert tools. It is concluded that the production of Insert tools by recycling of tungsten carbide is qualified as the imported Insert tools. In addition, it is the new developed research in Thailand to be the approach for domestic cutting tools product instead of the imported cutting tools.