Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making a ready to press cemented carbide powder with low compaction pressure suitable for the production of submicron cemented carbide by means of powder metallurgical techniques milling, pressing and sintering. The method comprises using from about 1 to about 3 wt-% pressing agent with the following composition, less than about 90 wt-% PEG and from about 10 to about 75 wt-% of blends of high molecular (C12-<C20) saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, or salts thereof containing at least one element of Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Mg, N, Na, V, Zn. Preferably the grain size of the cemented carbide powder is submicron. In a preferred embodiment the method includes a dry pre-milling of the hard constituents mainly WC-powder for about 2-45 hours in ball mills with cemented carbide milling bodies or using other suitable dry milling techniques prior to a wet milling step. The invention also relates to the powder obtained by the method.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fine grained cutting tool insert consisting of a cemented carbide substrate and a coating. The cemented carbide substrate comprises WC, binder phase, and vanadium containing cubic carbide phase with a binder phase enriched surface zone essentially free of cubic carbide phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coated cemented carbide comprising WC, a binder phase based on Co, Ni or Fe and gamma phase and with a binder phase enriched surface zone essentially free of gamma phase. The gamma phase has an average grain size less than about 1 ?m. In this way a binder phase enriched cemented carbide with improved toughness and essentially unchanged resistance against plastic deformation is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting tool insert for metal machining comprising tungsten carbide in a binder phase of tungsten or a tungsten alloy. The insert contains, in addition, W2C in an amount such that in the x-ray diffraction pattern the peak ratio W2C(101)/W(110) is <0.3. This particular microstructure is obtained by an additional heat treatment at about 1200° C. after the sintering.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cemented carbide body containing from about 3 to less than about 15 wt-% binder phase and essentially WC as the remainder. By alloying the binder phase with from about 0.5 to about 15 wt-% Mn an increase in the strength of the WC/WC grain boundaries is obtained.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of making a finegrained tungsten carbide—cobalt cemented carbide comprising mixing, milling according to standard practice followed by sintering. By introducing nitrogen at a pressure of more than 0.5 atm into the sintering atmosphere after dewaxing but before pore closure a grain refinement including reduced grain size and less abnormal grains can be obtained.

Abstract: A cemented carbide cutting tool insert/button for mining and construction comprising hard constituents in a binder phase of Co and/or Ni and at least one surface portion and an interior portion in which surface portion the grain size is smaller than in the interior portion is disclosed. The surface portion with the smaller grain size has a lower binder phase content than the interior portion. A method to form the cemented carbide cutting tool insert/button is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cemented carbide including WC, a binder phase based on Co, Ni or Fe, and gamma phase, in which said gamma phase has an average grain size <1 ?m. A method of making the cemented carbide is provided in which the powders forming gamma phase are added as mixed cubic carbides of one or more of Ti, Ta, Nb, Zr, Hf and V, and a ratio, fWC, between an amount of WC (in mol fraction of WC) and an equilibrium gamma phase WC content at a sintering temperature (in mol fraction WC) is given by fWC=xWC/xeWC, wherein fWC is 0.6 to 1.0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting tool insert for metal machining comprising tungsten carbide in a binder phase of tungsten or a tungsten alloy. The insert contains, in addition, W2C in an amount such that in the x-ray diffraction pattern the peak ratio W2C(101)/W(110) is <0.3. This particular microstructure is obtained by an additional heat treatment at about 1200° C. after the sintering.

Abstract: A cemented carbide tool comprising hard constituents in a binder phase of Co and/or Ni and at least one surface portion and an interior portion in which surface portion the grain size is smaller than in the interior portion is disclosed. The surface portion with the fine grain size has a lower binder phase content than the interior portion. A method to form the cemented carbide cutting tool is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of making a finegrained tungsten carbide—cobalt cemented carbide comprising mixing, milling according to standard practice followed by sintering. By introducing nitrogen at a pressure of more than 0.5 atm into the sintering atmosphere after dewaxing but before pore closure a grain refinement including reduced grain size and less abnormal grains can be obtained.