Experimental Study to Assess Fracture Toughness in SPS Sintered WC–10% Co Hardmetal by Modifying the Palmqvist Test

Hardmetals are widely used as cutting, machining, and drilling tools for rocks due to their excellent properties of hardness, fracture toughness, wear resistance over a wide temperature range. This study proposed evaluate the toughness WC–10% Co carbide, sintered via spark plasma sintering—SPS, through Vickers indentation measures, using modification Palmqvist test, which is assess cemented carbides, compare this result with results six different conventional models: Shetty, Niihara, Laugier, ISO 28079, Hanyaloglu, Lankford. The model in showed similarity test. However, there were considerable differences KIC values models, such 13.36 MPa·m1/2 4.44 same application load. Comparing greatest difference between was found Lankford equation, varied by 14.74%. Hanyaloglu equation smaller values, greater variation 3.61% lower 1.54%. Adequate hardness obtained, maximum 20.93 ± 0.25 GPa, minimum 15.76 0.63 densification 99.14 0.47 g/cm3.