Abstract: The present invention relates to a cemented carbide comprising WC grains, 3-20 wt. % binder selected from Co or Co and Ni and grain growth inhibitors wherein the WC mean grain size lies in the range of 180 nm and 230 nm, at least 10±2% WC grains are finer than 50 nm and 7±2% WC grains have a size from 50 to 100 nm. The invention further relates to a process for production the cemented carbide including the stages of milling WC powder with specific surface area (BET) of 3.0 m2/g or higher with binder and grain-growth inhibitors; pressing green parts; pre-sintering the green parts in H2 at 400° C. to 900° C. for 5 to 30 min; sintering in vacuum at temperatures of 1340° C. to 1410° C. for 3 min to 20 min; and HIP-sintering in Ar at pressures of 40 to 100 bar at temperatures of 1340° C. to 1410° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wear part or tool comprising a body containing an iron-group metal or alloy, a wear-resistant layer metallurgically bonded to a surface of the body through an intermediate layer, characterised in that the wear-resistant layer comprises at least 13 vol. % of grains of metal carbide selected from the group consisting of WC, TiC, VC, ZrC, NbC, Mo2C, HfC and TaC and grains of (Cr,Me)xCy and a metal based phase comprising of a solid solution of 0.5 to 20% Cr, 0.2 to 15% Si, and 0.2 to 20% carbon, where Me is Fe, Co and/or Ni; and the intermediate layer has a thickness of 0.05 to 1 mm and comprises Si in amount of 0.1 to 0.7 of that in the wear-resistant layer, chromium in amount of 0.1 to 0.6 of that in the wear-resistant layer and the metal of the metal carbide in amount of 0.2 to 0.6 of that in the wear-resistant layer and to a method of producing such a wear part.

Abstract: The invention relates to hard-metal body comprising a hard-metal, the hard-metal comprising tungsten carbide grains and metal binder comprising cobalt having a concentration of tungsten dissolved therein, the body comprising a surface region adjacent a surface and a core region remote from the surface, the surface region and the core region being contiguous with each other; the mean binder fraction of the core region being greater than that of the surface region; the mean carbon concentration within the binder being higher in the surface region than in the core region; to tools comprising same and methods of making same.

Abstract: An attack tool assembly (10) comprising an attack tool having a shank (23) extending therefrom, the shank (23) having a longitudinal axis; and a holder having a holder body (31) and a bore for receiving the shank (23) of the attack tool (10); the holder being adapted to receive the shank (23) in a configuration in which it prevents the shank (23) from rotating relative to the bore when the holder is in an engaged condition, and in which it allows the shank (23) to be rotatable relative to the bore when the holder is in a disengaged condition, so as to enable the shank (23) to be selectively securable to the holder in a required orientation about the longitudinal axis. The attack tool assembly (10) is particularly but not exclusively for use in the degradation of rock or asphalt bodies for formations, such as in soft rock mining and asphalt milling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a superhard element (10) comprising a polycrystalline superhard structure (20) joined at an interface to a hard-metal body (30) comprising metal carbide grains bonded together by a metal binder, the polycrystalline superhard structure comprising a superhard material; the hard-metal body comprising a surface region (32) proximate the interface and a core region (36) remote from the interface, the surface and the core regions being contiguous, the mean binder fraction in the core region being less than that in the surface region and to a method of making a hard-metal body for such an element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hard-metal comprising at least 13 volume % of a metal carbide selected from the group consisting of TiC, VC, ZrC, NbC, MoC, HfC, TaCl WC or a combination thereof, a binder phase comprising one or more of iron-group metals or alloy thereof and 0.1 to 10 weight % Si and 0.1 to 10 weight % Cr and having a liquidus temperature at 1280 degrees C. or lower and 3 to 39 volume % of diamond or cBN grains coated with a protective coating or a mixture thereof and a process for making the hard-metal.

Abstract: A pick tool comprising an insert and a steel holder for the insert, the insert comprising a superhard tip joined to a cemented carbide support body having an insertion shank; the steel holder comprising a shaft for connection to a tool carrier and provided with a bore configured for receiving the insertion shank; the volume of the cemented carbide support body being at least 6 cm3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wear part or tool comprising a body containing an iron-group metal or alloy, a wear-resistant layer metallurgically bonded to a surface of the body through an intermediate layer, characterised in that the wear-resistant layer comprises at least 13 vol. % of grains of metal carbide selected from the group consisting of WC, TiC, VC, ZrC, NbC, Mo2C, HfC and TaC and grains of (CrlMe)xCy and a metal based phase comprising of a solid solution of 0.5 to 20% Cr, 0.2 to 15% Sil and 0.2 to 20% carbon, where Me is Fe, Co and/or Ni; and the intermediate layer has a thickness of 0.05 to 1 mm and comprises Si in amount of 0.1 to 0.7 of that in the wear-resistant layer, chromium in amount of 0.1 to 0.6 of that in the wear-resistant layer and the metal of the metal carbide in amount of 0.2 to 0.6 of that in the wear-resistant layer and to a method of producing such a wear part.

Abstract: This invention relates to a percussion drill bit head for a percussion drilling apparatus, the drill bit head comprising a working surface and a plurality of super-hard buttons protruding from the working surface, the working surface having a hard area that is free of buttons and has Rockwell C hardness of at least 60 HRc. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a percussion drill bit head comprising a working surface and a plurality of buttons and a percussion drill bit assembly comprising a drill bit head according to the invention.