Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a ready-to-press agglomerated powder mixture by wet milling a powder mixture containing binder and spray drying said slurry to an agglomerated powder useful for making cutting tools for metal machining, tools for rock drilling and wear parts. If the binder is a baroplastic polymer having a pressure induced transformation from hard to soft well developed agglomerates with good flow properties and good plasticity are obtained. The hard property of the binder is used at normal pressures, during handling of the spray-dried powder and in the green body, whereas the softer properties are used at higher pressures during the pressing of the material when the pressure exceeds from about 10 to about 50 MPa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making an agglomerated powder mixture by wet milling a powder mixture containing hard constituent powder(s) based on carbides of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and/or W and greater than about 15 wt-% binder phase powder(s) of Co and/or Ni as well as pressing agents and spray drying said slurry. By adding to said powder mixture before milling in addition from about 0.05 to about 0.50 wt-% of a complex forming and/or pH-decreasing/increasing additive such as triethanolamine, hydroxides or acids and a thickener in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.10 wt-% agglomerates with excellent flow properties are obtained.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for manufacturing powders of cemented carbide, cermets, ceramics and similar materials with good abrasive wear resistance starting from a slurry, wherein the slurry is introduced into a drop forming device including at least one essentially horizontal oriented rotating drop forming disk (12), from which the drops are slung out to solidify by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for manufacturing powders of cemented carbide, cermets, ceramics and similar materials with good abrasive wear resistance starting from a slurry, wherein the slurry is introduced into a drop forming device including at least one essentially horizontal oriented rotating drop forming disk (12), from which the drops are slung out to solidify by centrifugal force.