Abstract: A method of treating a sintered mining insert including cemented carbide includes the step of subjecting the mining insert to a surface hardening process. The surface hardening process is executed at an elevated temperature of or above 100° C. A mining insert is also provided, wherein the HV1 Vickers hardness measurement increase (HV1%) from the surface region, measured as an average of HV1 measurements taken at 100 ?m, 200 ?m and 300 ?m below the surface, compared to the HV1 Vickers hardness measured in the bulk (HV1bulk), is at least 8.05-0.00350×HV1bulk.

Abstract: A method of redistributing the binder phase of a cemented carbide mining insert having a WC hard-phase component, optionally one or more further hard-phase components and a binder includes the steps of providing a green cemented carbide mining insert; applying at least one binder puller selected from a metal oxide or a metal carbonate to only at least one local area of the surface of the green cemented carbide insert; sintering the green carbide mining insert to form a sintered cemented carbide insert; and subjecting the sintered cemented carbide insert to dry tumbling process executed at an elevated temperature of or above 100° C., preferably at a temperature of or above 200° C., more preferably at a temperature of between 200° C. and 450° C.

Abstract: A method of treating a sintered mining insert including cemented carbide includes the step of subjecting the mining insert to a surface hardening process. The surface hardening process is executed at an elevated temperature of or above 100° C. A mining insert is also provided, wherein the HV1 Vickers hardness measurement increase (HV1%) from the surface region, measured as an average of HV1 measurements taken at 100 ?m, 200 ?m and 300 ?m below the surface, compared to the HV1 Vickers hardness measured in the bulk (HV1bulk), is at least 8.05-0.00350×HV1bulk.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making a cemented carbide mining insert, a cemented carbide mining insert with having a chemical and hardness gradient and to the use thereof. The method includes the steps of providing a green mining insert compact formed from a first powder including a WC-based hard phase, optionally one or more further hard-phase components and a binder, applying a second powder including a grain refiner compound and/or a carbon based grain growth promoter to at least one portion of a surface of the green mining insert compac, and sintering the green mining insert compact to produce a cemented carbide mining insert, wherein the first powder additionally includes Cr, in an amount such that the mass ratio of Cr/binder is of 0.01-0.3.

Abstract: A rock drill insert made of cemented carbide having hard constituents of tungsten carbide (WC) in a binder phase including Co, wherein the cemented carbide includes 4-18 mass % Co and a balance of WC and unavoidable impurities. The cemented carbide also includes Cr in such an amount that the mass ratio Cr/Co is within the range of 0.04-0.19, and the difference between the hardness at a 0.3 mm depth at any point of the surface of the rock drill insert and the hardness of the bulk of the rock drill insert is at least 40 HV3.

Abstract: A method of redistributing the binder phase of a cemented carbide mining insert having one or more hard-phase components and a binder includes the steps of: a) providing a green cemented carbide mining insert; b) applying at least one binder puller selected from a metal oxide or a metal carbonate to the surface of the green cemented carbide mining insert; and c) sintering the green cemented carbide mining insert, the metal oxide or metal carbonate being only applied to at least one local area on the surface of the green cemented carbide mining insert. Moreover, a cemented carbide having a hardness gradient and the use thereof is also provided.

Abstract: A rock drill insert made of cemented carbide includes hard constituents of tungsten carbide (WC) in a binder phase of Ni—Cr, or Ni—Co—Cr, and a balance of WC and unavoidable impurities. The cemented carbide has a 3.5-18 wt % binder phase. The binder phase has >0 wt % Ni. The mass ratio Cr/(Ni+Co) is 0.02-0.19. A difference between the hardness at 0.3 mm depth at some point of the surface of the rock drill insert and the minimum hardness of the bulk of the rock drill insert is at least 30 HV3.

Abstract: A rock drill insert made of cemented carbide having hard constituents of tungsten carbide (WC) in a binder phase including Co, wherein the cemented carbide includes 4-18 mass % Co and a balance of WC and unavoidable impurities. The cemented carbide also includes Cr in such an amount that the mass ratio Cr/Co is within the range of 0.04-0.19, and the difference between the hardness at a 0.3 mm depth at any point of the surface of the rock drill insert and the hardness of the bulk of the rock drill insert is at least 40 HV3.

Abstract: A tool for cutting, drilling or crushing of solid material, wherein the tool includes a cemented carbide body attached to a steel holder by a braze joint located between a base surface of the cemented carbide body and the steel holder. The cemented carbide body has a hard phase mainly of tungsten carbide, WC, and a binder consisting of cobalt, wherein the cobalt content of the cemented carbide body is equal to or lower than about 5.5 wt %. The cemented carbide body has a cobalt content gradient therein wherein the cobalt content increases towards the base surface and is at least 4.5 wt % at the base surface. The ratio of the cobalt content at the base surface to the cobalt content of the cemented carbide is ?1.09. A method for producing the tool is also presented.

Abstract: A method of producing a cemented carbide body provides: (1) a grain refiner compound comprising a grain refiner and carbon and/or nitrogen, and, (2) a grain growth promoter, on at least one portion of the surface of a compact of a WC-based starting material comprising one or more hard-phase components and a binder, and then sinters the compact. The invention also relates to a cemented carbide body comprising a WC-based hard phase and a binder phase, wherein at least one part of an intermediate surface zone has a lower average binder content than a part further into the body, and at least one part of an upper surface zone has in average a larger average WC grain size than the intermediate surface zone. The cemented carbide body can be used as a cutting tool insert for metal machining, an insert for a mining tool, or a coldforming tool.

Abstract: A method of producing a cemented carbide body provides: (1) a grain refiner compound comprising a grain refiner and carbon and/or nitrogen, and, (2) a grain growth promoter, on at least one portion of the surface of a compact of a WC-based starting material comprising one or more hard-phase components and a binder, and then sinters the compact. The invention also relates to a cemented carbide body comprising a WC-based hard phase and a binder phase, wherein at least one part of an intermediate surface zone has a lower average binder content than a part further into the body, and at least one part of an upper surface zone has in average a larger average WC grain size than the intermediate surface zone. The cemented carbide body can be used as a cutting tool insert for metal machining, an insert for a mining tool, or a coldforming tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a cemented carbide body comprising providing: (1) a grain refiner compound comprising a grain refiner and carbon and/or nitrogen, and, (2) a grain growth promoter, on at least one portion of the surface of a compact of a WC-based starting material comprising one or more hard-phase components and a binder, and then sintering the compact. The invention also relates to a cemented carbide body comprising a WC-based hard phase and a binder phase, wherein at least one part of an intermediate surface zone has a lower average binder content than a part further into the body, and at least one part of an upper surface zone has in average a larger average WC grain size than the intermediate surface zone. The cemented carbide body can be used as a cutting tool insert for metal machining, an insert for a mining tool, or a coldforming tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a cemented carbide body comprising providing: (1) a grain refiner compound comprising a grain refiner and carbon and/or nitrogen, and, (2) a grain growth promoter, on at least one portion of the surface of a compact of a WC-based starting material comprising one or more hard-phase components and a binder, and then sintering the compact. The invention also relates to a cemented carbide body comprising a WC-based hard phase and a binder phase, wherein at least one part of an intermediate surface zone has a lower average binder content than a part further into the body, and at least one part of an upper surface zone has in average a larger average WC grain size than the intermediate surface zone. The cemented carbide body can be used as a cutting tool insert for metal machining, an insert for a mining tool, or a coldforming tool.