In the research, Fe–Cu alloys with various Cu contents were used as the binder metal of WC. An
investigation has been carried out on the influence of Cu content and sintering temperature on the
mechanical properties of WC–Fe–Cu hard alloys. The WC–Fe–Cu hard alloys with 0 (for comparison),
0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, 2 wt.% and 2.5 wt.% Cu were processed by powder metallurgy. The samples
were prepared by vacuum sintering at various temperatures, viz. 1250, 1300 and 1350 C for 1 h.