Fabrication of porous structured WC-Co alloy compacts by indirect laser forming

This study deals with manufacturing of porous structured WC-Co alloy compacts and the forming mechanism by indirect laser forming. In this process, added binder is melted and formed as designed shape by irradiated laser beam. Therefore, the effects of laser energy density on the relative density and forming mechanism were mainly investigated. As the results, the porosity of WC-Co alloy compacts could be controlled by laser energy density decided by scan rate, scan pitch and feedstock layer thickness. It was also found that remained binder amount play an important role in forming pores during liquid phase sintering in WC-Co alloy compacts. Finally, the smart porous structured WC-Co alloy compacts which own the dense surface layer and porous interior was manufactured by controlling the laser energy density.