Distribution of the thermal residual stresses in the WC-Co microstructure by finite element method

A Finite Element Model is used to observe the build-up of residual thermal stresses during the sintering process in two WC-Co samples with different volume fractions of Co. A realistic model of the two phase material is obtained by FIB slicing a real WC-Co sample and reconstituting the morphology. In the finite element model, the WC phase is defined as elastic and the Co phase includes plasticity. Different sets of parameters are considered to model the two phases. The results are compared with experimental data obtained by neutron diffraction. A good agreement is obtained between the experimental data and the simulations. The spatial distribution of the stress in the WC phase is also observed. This observation reveals anisotropy in the microscopic behavior, with the presence of preferential directions for the build-up of stress.