Research status of cemented carbide powders based on additive manufacturing
LI Xiaofeng1，2，ZHAO Yuxia1，GUO Zi′ao1，LIU Bin1，BAI Peikang1，LIU Bin2
（1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China; 2. The
State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China）
Abstract：Cemented carbides, composed of refractory metal carbide (WC, TiC, NbC, etc.) and metallic binder
phases (such as Fe, Ni and Co), are prepared by powder mixing, pressing, and then sintering. However, the traditional
powder metallurgy method is expensive to fabricate molds, and it is difficult to make complex parts. In contrast,
additive manufacturing (AM, also named as "3D printing") adopts digital lamination processing technology
that enables to achieve fast and precise forming. One of the most critical steps for achieving high-quality products
is researching and developing cemented carbide powders suitable for additive manufacturing. At present, the preparation
methods of cemented carbide powders for additive manufacturing are mainly divided into the following four
categories: mechanical alloying, spherical WC surface coating technology, spray drying technology and plasma
spheroidization technology. These four methods differ in fabrication principle, cost, and flexibility of forming method.
Four common preparation methods mentioned above of cemented carbide powders fabricated by AM were reviewed,
the physical characteristics and forming properties of the prepared powders were compared, and the principles of
powder preparation, their respective advantages and disadvantages, and the suitable additive manufacturing process
were analyzed, in order to promote the research and development of cemented carbide powders made by AM.
李晓峰，赵宇霞，郭子傲，刘斌，白培康，刘彬. 基于增材制造的硬质合金粉末研究现状[J]. 粉末冶金工业, 2023, 33(01): 1-9.
LI Xiaofeng，ZHAO Yuxia，GUO Zi′ao，LIU Bin，BAI Peikang，LIU Bin. Research status of cemented carbide powders based on additive manufacturing. Powder Metallurgy Industry, 2023, 33(01): 1-9.
2023, Vol. 33 
