In this article, photothermal techniques were used in order to determine some thermal properties: diffusivity, conductivity, effusivity and specific heat capacity of WC-10 wt. (%) Co six samples subjected to different sintering processes. The samples were sintered using high pressure - high temperature (HPHT) sintering system. The open cell photoacoustic (OPC) used to measure thermal diffusivity is described in detail. The values of thermal properties here measured and evaluated are consistent to those previously reported in the literature.

Ligas de metal duro (WC/Co) são geralmente processadas pelas técnicas da metalurgia do pó, que compreende mistura dos pós elementares, compactação e sinterização por fase líquida, com ou sem a posterior prensagem isostática a quente (HIP). Uma nova rota de processamento de metal duro é aqui apresentada, chamada de altas pressões e altas temperaturas (HPHT). Neste trabalho foi estudada a sinterização da liga WC/10% pesoCo a 5GPa, nas temperaturas de 1200, 1300, e 1400ºC, para os tempos de 1 e 2 minutos. Os melhores resultados obtidos foram: densidade =95,6%, dureza HV45 =10GPa e tenacidade à fratura K Ic=11MPa.m½.

Hardmetal is usually processed by the conventional powder technology techniques: mix of WC + Co powders, compacting, and liquid phase sintering. A new method to process hardmetal parts are described here. Parts of WC/10%wt Co were processed by using high pressure and high temperature sintering. It was used the pressure of 5GPa, temperatures of 1200, 1300, and 1400ºC, and times of 1and 2 minutes of sintering. The best results was density =95,5%, hardness HV45 =10GPa and fracture toughness of K Ic =11MPa.m½.