Fetih Teshager
Contact details
Thesis title
The Search for Alternative Binder Metals to Tungsten Carbide Hardmetal
Research overview
The development of Co-equivalent binders for tungsten carbide (WC) hard metals has become increasingly important due to concerns regarding the health risks, critical supply, and cost of cobalt. Efficient identification of alternative binder metals using computational approaches requires a predictive framework that links processing conditions, microstructural evolution, and mechanical performance across multiple length scales. This research begins by establishing a fundamental understanding of the deformation behavior of WC-Co composites through molecular dynamics simulations, with particular emphasis on the role of the WC/Co interface. The atomistic study investigates interfacial sliding and anisotropic deformation mechanisms to identify how the interface governs stress transfer and plastic deformation in cemented carbides. Building on this understanding, a coupled process-structure-property (P-S-P) model is developed and validated to describe the relationships between powder metallurgy processing parameters, microstructural evolution, and the resulting mechanical properties of WC-based cemented carbides. The framework incorporates thermodynamic and kinetic parameters obtained from CALPHAD calculations, enabling physically consistent predictions of phase evolution during sintering. Finally, the validated P-S-P model is integrated with computational search algorithms to efficiently explore a broad range of compositional space to identify promising Co-equivalent binder alloys. The resulting computational framework provides a systematic approach for the design of alternative binder metals for next-generation WC hard metals..
Research group
Integrated Computational Materials Group (ICME)
Supervisors
Qualifications
M.Sc. Mechanical Design Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Ethiopia (2021)
B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Ethiopia (2018)