Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a blank, in particular a blank for the production of a cutting tool, wherein a green body extending in the direction of the extrusion axis is produced from extrusion material by means of an extruder which has an extrusion channel extending along an extrusion axis; wherein the extrusion channel together with a movable mold element forms a die of the extruder; and wherein the mold element is moved relative to the extrusion channel and within said extrusion channel during the extrusion of the green body, whereby the shaping geometry of the die is changed so that the completely extruded green body hereby has a first functional segment and a second functional segment adjacent thereto in the direction of the extrusion axis (4); wherein the two functional segments differ with regard to their geometries impressed by the die.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a blank, in particular a blank for the production of a cutting tool, wherein a green body extending in the direction of the extrusion axis is produced from extrusion material by means of an extruder which has an extrusion channel extending along an extrusion axis; wherein the extrusion channel together with a movable mold element forms a die of the extruder; and wherein the mold element is moved relative to the extrusion channel and within said extrusion channel during the extrusion of the green body, whereby the shaping geometry of the die is changed so that the completely extruded green body hereby has a first functional segment and a second functional segment adjacent thereto in the direction of the extrusion axis (4); wherein the two functional segments differ with regard to their geometries impressed by the die.

Abstract: A cemented carbide body is 1-30% by mass of binder consisting of Co, Co/Ni, Co/Fe, Co/Ni/Fe or Ni/Fe and a hard material having a hexagonal WC phase and having a face-centered cubic phase of the form (M1, M2, M3)C or (M1, M2, M3)(C, N) or (M1, M2, M3)(O, C, N) where M1=Ti and/or Zr and M2=W and M3 optionally means none or one or a plurality of the elements Ta, Nb, Hf, Cr, Mo or V, wherein the proportion of the face-centered cubic phase based on the total mass is 2% to 97%, preferably 5 to 12% by mass, and the microstructure of the hexagonal phase and of the face-centered cubic phase has a mean grain size of between 0.2 ?m and 1 ?m, preferably ?0.9 ?m, and the mean grain sizes of the hexagonal phase and of the face-centered cubic phase differ at most by 30%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the distribution of microwave energy density in an applicator which forms a resonator chamber and in which the radiation generated by microwave generators is guided to the applicator wall by waveguides; and to a use for this device. According to the invention, several electroconductive coupling pins (31) are used, each of these extending preferably vertically into both the waveguide chamber and the applicator resonator chamber, in order to feed in the microwaves with as little loss as possible and to enable the field distribution in the resonator chamber to be modified. The invention is especially suitable for producing a plasma.

Abstract: A hard metal or cermet sintered body and a method of making it wherein a solid phase containing WC and a binder phase are formed together with WC platelets by direct microwave irradiation, utilizing reactive sintering to form the WC at least in part and to produce the platelets.

Abstract: The invention concerns a composite body consisting of a hard metal, cermet or ceramic substrate body and at least one layer of a mechanically resistant material, a ceramic substance, a diamond-like layer, amorphous carbon and/or hexagonal boron nitride. The invention also concerns a method of producing this composite body, wherein, when the green compact has been dewaxed, with its pores still open and whilst it continues to be heated as from a temperature of between 600° C. and 1100° C., it is acted upon by sublimable solids and/or reaction gases which are necessary for coating purposes. The temperature of the green compact is then further increased and the latter is fully compressed by sintering, before one or more layers of the above-mentioned type is/are applied.

Abstract: A composite body of a microwave sintered composition of a cermet or hard metal as a modified surface layer which can promote the microwave sintering and can be of a thickness of 0.01 to 1 mm with a density gradually decreasingly inwardly or a thickness up to 1 mm and having locally distributed compacts therein or which can be a layer of a thickness of 1 to 10 mm of a substantially pure metal or which can have a binder metal removed to a depth of about half the grain thickness of a hard material such as WC.

Abstract: A cermet or hard metal body is formed from elemental metal, carbon and a nitrogen source such as a metal nitride or an organic nitrogen source by microwave sintering such that chemical reaction occurs with the formation of carbides and/or carbonitrides. The elemental metal, carbon and nitrogen source are mixed together and prepressed to form the green body which is subjected to the microwave radiation in reaction sintering.