Abstract: A pressable powder is formed by a method comprising [I] mixing, in essentially deoxygenated water, [A] a first powder selected from the group consisting of a transition metal carbide and transition metal with [B] an additional component selected from the group consisting of (i) a second powder comprised of a transition metal carbide, transition metal or mixture thereof; (ii) an organic binder and (iii) combination thereof and [II] drying the mixed mixture to form the pressable powder, wherein the second powder is chemically different than the first powder. The pressable powder may then be formed into a shaped part and subsequently densified into a densified part, such as a cemented tungsten carbide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of hydrophobic inorganic oxide products which comprises reacting the inorganic oxide particles with organohalosilanes, preferably organochlorosilanes, to produce hydrophobic organosilane coated inorganic oxides. It is preferred that the organohalosilane compounds be reacted with the inorganic oxide particles in an aqueous slurry and subjected to intense mixing. The inorganic oxide pigments prepared by the processes of this invention have essentially quantitative retention of the organosilanes and contain no adsorbed aldehydes on their surface. The by-products produced in the preferred embodiments of the invention are innocuous salts, which are environmentally safe and readily disposable.