MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Additive manufacturing techniques for WC−Co cemented carbides: Principle, progress, and perspective

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  • a School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;

    b State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;

    c China Tungsten and Hightech Materials Co., Ltd., Zhuzhou 412000, China;

    d Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Cutting Tools Co., Ltd., Zhuzhou 412000, China

Online published: 2026-01-28

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology has emerged as a viable solution for manufacturing complex- shaped WC−Co cemented carbide products, thereby expanding their applications in industries such as resource mining, equipment manufacturing, and electronic information. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the progress of AM technology in WC−Co cemented carbides. The fundamental principles and classification of AM techniques are introduced, followed by a categorization and evaluation of the AM techniques for WC−Co cemented carbides. These techniques are classified as either direct AM technology (DAM) or indirect AM technology (IDAM), depending on their inclusion of post-processes like de-binding and sintering. Through an analysis of microstructure features, the most suitable AM route for WC−Co cemented carbide products with controllable microstructure is identified as the indirect AM technology, such as binder jet printing (BJP), which integrates AM with conventional powder metallurgy.

Cite this article

Zhan-he LIU, Ke-chao ZHOU, Kai-hua SHI, Xiao-zan WU, He XIAO, Chao-qun PENG, Ri-chu WANG, Xiao-feng WANG . Additive manufacturing techniques for WC−Co cemented carbides: Principle, progress, and perspective[J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2026 , 36(1) : 1 -24 . DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)66946-9

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