i) WC-Co grades
Straight grades, sometimes referred to as unalloyed grades, are nominally pure
WC-Co composites. They contain 3-13 w/o (weight percent) Co for cutting tool grades
and up to 30 w/o Co for wear resistant parts. The average carbide particle size varies
from sub-micron to eight microns. Straight grades are used for machining cast iron,
nonferrous alloys, and non-metallic materials, but generally not for the machining of steel.
This thesis is focused on the study of straight grades.