Abstract: The present disclosure provides thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and a process of their manufacture. The microspheres include a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent. The thermoplastic polymer shell includes a copolymer of an itaconate dialkylester and at least one aliphatic or aromatic mono-ethylenically unsaturated comonomer. The itaconate dialkylester has the formula (1): where each of R1 and R2, separately from one another, is an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, and the copolymer includes 0-50 wt. % of vinyl aromatic comonomers, based on the total weight of the comonomers. The present disclosure further provides expanded microspheres usable in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A rock drill button having a body of sintered cemented carbide that has hard constituents of tungsten carbide (WC) in a binder phase of Co, wherein the cemented carbide has 4-12 mass % Co and balance WC and unavoidable impurities. The cemented carbide also has Cr in such an amount that the Cr/Co ratio is within the range of 0.043-0.19, and that the WC grain size mean value is above 1.75 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and to a process of their manufacture. The microspheres comprise a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent, wherein the thermoplastic polymer shell comprises a copolymer of an itaconate dialkylester and at least one aliphatic or aromatic mono-ethylenically unsaturated comonomer, wherein the itaconate dialkylester is according to formula (1): wherein each of R1 and R2, separately from one another, is an alkyl group preferably with 1-4 carbon atoms, and wherein the copolymer contains 0-50 wt. % of vinyl aromatic comonomers, based on the total weight of the comonomers. The invention further provides expanded microspheres, which can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A method of producing a component of a composite of diamond and a binder, wherein a Hot Isostatic gas Pressure process (HIP) is used, includes the step of enclosing a de-bound green body having compacted diamond particles in an infiltrant. The method includes the further steps of enclosing the de-bound green body and the infiltrant in a Zr-capsule that has Zirconium as a main constituent and sealing the Zr-capsule, and applying a predetermined pressure-temperature cycle on the unit formed by the de-bound green body, infiltrant and capsule in which the infiltrant infiltrates the de-bound green body and the de-bound green body is further densified in the sense that the volume thereof is decreased.

Abstract: A method of producing a component of a composite of diamond and a binder, wherein a Hot Isostatic gas Pressure process (HIP) is used, includes the step of enclosing a de-bound green body having compacted diamond particles in an infiltrant. The method includes the further steps of enclosing the de-bound green body and the infiltrant in a Zr-capsule that has Zirconium as a main constituent and sealing the Zr-capsule, and applying a predetermined pressure-temperature cycle on the unit formed by the de-bound green body, infiltrant and capsule in which the infiltrant infiltrates the de-bound green body and the de-bound green body is further densified in the sense that the volume thereof is decreased.

Abstract: A rock drill button having a body of sintered cemented carbide that has hard constituents of tungsten carbide (WC) in a binder phase of Co, wherein the cemented carbide has 4-12 mass % Co and balance WC and unavoidable impurities. The cemented carbide also has Cr in such an amount that the Cr/Co ratio is within the range of 0.043-0.19, and that the WC grain size mean value is above 1.75 ?m.