{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]],"date-time":"2026-01-17T22:03:10Z","timestamp":1768687390229,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,6]],"date-time":"2022-09-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1662422400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia, I.P.","award":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia, I.P.","award":["UIDP\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/50022\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia, I.P.","award":["P2020|Norte2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P2020|Norte2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia, I.P.","award":["NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000051"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000051"]}]},{"name":"FEDER","award":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FEDER","award":["UIDP\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/50022\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FEDER","award":["P2020|Norte2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P2020|Norte2020"]}]},{"name":"FEDER","award":["NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000051"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000051"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study seeks to investigate the local reinforcement of low carbon cast steel specimens with WC\u2013metal matrix composites (WC\u2013MMCs), to obtain a new material effective in competing with hard alloy steels. For this purpose, a powder compact of tungsten carbide (WC) and iron (Fe) was prepared and placed in the mold cavity before casting. The reactions that occurred with the molten steel led to the formation of the WC\u2013MMC and, consequently, to the local reinforcement of the steel. The microstructure of the WC\u2013MMC reinforcement was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results showed a microstructural variation throughout the depth of the reinforcement. In the surface region, most of the original WC particles retain their polygonal morphology, but towards the base metal, the dissolution of the WC particles increased with the formation of (Fe,W)6C carbides. Closer to the base metal, dendritic eutectic carbides of (Fe,W)6C and fine (Fe,W)23C6 precipitates in a matrix of martensite were formed. The mechanical properties of the reinforcement were evaluated by hardness and ball-cratering abrasion tests. The results revealed a significant increase in hardness, being three times harder than the base metal, and a decrease of 39% in the wear rate.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma15186199","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,6]],"date-time":"2022-09-06T22:33:01Z","timestamp":1662503581000},"page":"6199","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["A Study on a Cast Steel Reinforced with WC\u2013Metal Matrix Composite"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8615-7612","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aida B.","family":"Moreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"LAETA\/INEGI\u2014Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7698-5465","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura M. M.","family":"Ribeiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"LAETA\/INEGI\u2014Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Pedro","family":"Lacerda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"FERESPE, Fundi\u00e7\u00e3o de Ferro e A\u00e7o Lda, R. Basileia, 4760-485 Vila Nova de Famalic\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ana M. P.","family":"Pinto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CMEMS\u2014Center for MicroElectroMechanics Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3667-0562","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel F.","family":"Vieira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"LAETA\/INEGI\u2014Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"ASM Handbook Committee (1990). Metals Handbook-Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys, ASM International."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Berns, H., and Theisen, W. (2008). 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