Abstract: A rod includes a first rod section occupying a predetermined region in a longitudinal direction, and a second rod section occupying a region different from the first rod section in the longitudinal direction. The first rod section has composition including A% by mass of cobalt, 0 to 1% by mass of chromium, 0 to 0.5% by mass of vanadium, and remainder of tungsten carbide and unavoidable impurities. The second rod section has composition including B% by mass of cobalt, 0 to 1% by mass of chromium, 0 to 0.5% by mass of vanadium, and remainder of tungsten carbide and unavoidable impurities. Contents of cobalt in the first rod section and the second rod section satisfy a relationship of 1% by mass?B<A?20% by mass. The second rod section has a length of 10 to 1000% with respect to the first rod section in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A lightweight material for decorative parts having a silver metallic color tone is provided. The material includes a sintered body including a main hard phase composed of a solid solution formed of titanium carbonitride and titanium carbide; a main binder phase composed of nickel; a first additive material composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of molybdenum carbide, niobium carbide, tungsten carbide, and tantalum carbide; a second additive material composed of at least one of chromium and chromium carbide; and the balance being incidental impurities. The N content in the sintered body is 2.0% to 6.0% by mass. The color tone of the sintered body satisfies L*=9 to 14, a*=?2 to 3, and b*=?6 to 0, which are values of the L*a*b* color system measured with a spectrophotometric colorimeter.

Abstract: A lightweight material for decorative parts having a silver metallic color tone is provided. The material includes a sintered body including a main hard phase composed of a solid solution formed of titanium carbonitride and titanium carbide; a main binder phase composed of nickel; a first additive material composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of molybdenum carbide, niobium carbide, tungsten carbide, and tantalum carbide; a second additive material composed of at least one of chromium and chromium carbide; and the balance being incidental impurities. The N content in the sintered body is 2.0% to 6.0% by mass. The color tone of the sintered body satisfies L*=9 to 14, a*=?2 to 3, and b*=?6 to 0, which are values of the L*a*b* color system measured with a spectrophotometric colorimeter.