Abstract: According to the present invention there is now provided a method of making a sintered titanium-based carbonitride alloy. According to the method, melt-metallurgical raw materials containing the metallic alloying elements for hard constituent-forming as well as binder phase-forming elements are melted and cast, using no intentional additions of the elements C, N, B and O, to form a pre-alloy which in solidified condition of brittle intermetallic phases with hard constituent-forming and binder phase-forming elements mixed in atomic scale. The pre-alloy is crushed and/or milled to powder with grain size <50 .mu.m. The powder is carbonitrided for simultaneous formation in situ of extremely fine-grained <0.1 .mu.m, hard constituent particles enclosed in their binder phase.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cutting tool material with improved toughness behavior using alumina or silicon nitride as the matrix material. The improved toughness is achieved by the addition of whiskers and optionally zirconia in a monoclinic or tetragonal phase, to the matrix. The whiskers are disc-shaped with a thickness of 0.5-8 .mu.m and an equivalent diameter (hypothetical diameter of a circle with the same area as the disc) of about 5-50 .mu.m.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cutting tool material with improved toughness behavior. The improved toughness behavior is obtained by using carefully selected reinforcing materials. The objectives of this invention are realized by simultaneously utilizing additives resulting in different toughenings mechanisms. By the simultaneous utilization of different toughening additives, synergistic effects occur giving the tool excellent material properties. The tool material of the present invention comprises reinforcing whisker additives of one dimensional single crystals with preferably different diameter and aspect ratios, two dimensional single crystals with different thickness and aspect ratios, and, in combination therewith, phase transformation additives such as ZrO.sub.2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cutting tool material with improved toughness behavior. The improved toughness behavior is obtained by using carefully selected reinforcing materials. The objectives of this invention are realized by simultaneously utilizing additives resulting in different toughening mechanisms. By the simultaneous utilization of different toughening additives, synergistic effects occur giving the tool excellent material properties. The tool material of the present invention comprises reinforcing whisker additives of one dimensional single crystals with preferably different diameter and aspect ratios, two dimensional single crystals with different thickness and aspect ratios, and, in combination therewith, phase transformation additives such as ZrO.sub.2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound body consisting of a substrate with a surface coating of one or more dense, finegrained diamond layers, where the diamond grains are directly bonded to each other. Extreme hardness makes the compound body suitable for wear parts- and tools applications. Very good heat conductivity and an extremely high electrical isolation resistance makes the compound body extremely useful to lead away heat in electronic components.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition method for the production of a composite body with one or more polycrystalline diamond layers, essentially free of intercrystalline binder phase, on a substrate of one of: (a) metalbonded hardmaterial compound; (b) ceramic material; or (c) a metal or an alloy, whereby the heated substrate is contacted with a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbon or hydrogen, which mixture has been activated by passing it over a tantalum heater heated to a temperature of 1500.degree.-2500.degree. C.Also disclosed is the use of the compound body in tools subjected to mechanical operations.

Abstract: The wear resistance and toughness of a coated ceramic insert comprising a ceramic substrate and at least one thin surface layer of ceramic oxide is improved by applying at least one thin intermediate layer of hard borides of the subgroups or of the III-V groups of the periodic table, or of hard yttrium compounds. The layers are deposited from a gaseous phase.