Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic-metal composite body exhibiting binder enrichment and improved fracture toughness at its surface. The process involves forming a shaped body from a homogeneous mixture of: (a) about 2-15 w/o Co or about 2-12 w/o Ni binder, (b) excess carbon, (c) optionally, 0 to less than 5.0 v/o B-1 carbides, and (d) remainder tungsten carbide. The mixture contains sufficient total carbon to result in an ASTM carbon porosity rating of C06 to C08 at the core of the densified body. The weight ratio of excess carbon to binder is about 0.05:1 to 0.037:1. The shaped body is densified in a vacuum or inert atmosphere at or above about 1300.degree. C. and slow cooled, at least to about 25.degree. below the eutectic temperature. Alternatively, the sintered body may be cooled to a holding temperature at or slightly above the eutectic temperature, isothermally held for at least 1/2 hr, and further cooled to ambient.

Abstract: This invention relates to abrasion resistant materials and to articles of manufacture made therefrom. More particularly, it is concerned with abrasion resistant materials comprising boron doped TiC or boron doped VC distributed in a matrix containing silicon nitride and with articles made therefrom.

Abstract: A steel roughing grade coated cemented carbide cutting tool comprises WC grains equal to or less than 70 w/o of the tool substrate, from about 5 to about 10 w/o of a cobalt bonding phase and the remainder being metal carbide grains selected from the group TiC, TaC, NbC, HfC and combinations thereof. The average WC grain size is from about 0.9 to about 1.3 microns and less than 10% of the WC grains have a size less than 0.5 microns. The coated cemented carbide tool is coated with an adherent refractory coating layer. The coated cemented carbide cutting tool can be used to machine steel at rough and heavy rough cutting conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a triple coated cemented hard metal carbide product in which a cemented metal carbide substrate is coated with, first, a metal carbide coating to promote coating adherence to the substrate, secondly, a metal nitride or carbonitride coating to promote crater wear resistance and, thirdly, a metal carbide outer layer to promote flank flank wear resistance in order to protect the cemented metal carbide substrate from corrosive atmosphere and abrasion due to frictional flank wear.