Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one carbide, nitride, boride, and oxide and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and, optionally, at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent, boron up to 10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent, and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include hybrid composite materials comprising a cemented carbide dispersed phase and a cemented carbide continuous phase. The contiguity ratio of the dispersed phase of embodiments may be less than or equal to 0.48. The hybrid composite material may have a hardness of the dispersed phase that is greater than the hardness of the continuous phase. For example, in certain embodiments of the hybrid composite material, the hardness of the dispersed phase is greater than or equal to 88 HRA and less than or equal to 95 HRA and the hardness of the continuous phase is greater than or equal to 78 and less than or equal to 91 HRA. Additional embodiments may include hybrid composite materials comprising a first cemented carbide dispersed phase wherein the volume fraction of the dispersed phase is less than 50 volume percent and a second cemented carbide continuous phase, wherein the contiguity ratio of the dispersed phase is less than or equal to 1.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is now provided a body cemented carbide provided with at least one wear resistant layer, which body contains a toughness increasing surface zone. Increase in toughness is obtained due to the presence of a surface zone having increased WC grain size and/or increased Co content. The invention is most suitable for WC—Co cemented carbides.

Abstract: A matrix powder that includes (a) about 15 weight percent of ?325 Mesh cast tungsten carbide particles; (b) about 2 weight percent ?325 Mesh particles comprising one or more of iron particles and nickel particles; (c) about 2 weight percent +60 Mesh macrocrystalline tungsten carbide particles; (d) about 6 weight percent ?60+80 Mesh macrocrystalline tungsten carbide particles; and (e) about 75 weight percent ?80+325 Mesh hard particles. A portion of component (e) forms between about 10 weight percent and about 20 weight percent of the matrix powder. The portion of component (e) that is crushed cemented tungsten carbide particles containing one or more of cobalt and nickel within one of the following particle size ranges: (i) ?80+120 Mesh hard particles; (ii) ?120+170 Mesh hard particles; (iii) ?170+230 Mesh hard particles; (iv) ?230+325 Mesh hard particles; (v) ?325 Mesh hard particles. The balance of component (e) is macrocrystalline tungsten carbide particles.

Abstract: Cermets are provided in which a substantially stoichiometric metal carbide ceramic phase along with a reprecipitated metal carbide phase, represented by the formula MxCy, is dispersed in a metal binder phase. In MxCy M is Cr, Fe, Ni, Co, Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo or mixtures thereof, x and y are whole or fractional numerical values with x ranging from 1 to 30 and y from 1 to 6. These cermets are particularly useful in protecting surfaces from erosion and corrosion at high temperatures.

Abstract: A wear-resistant iron-based sintered contact material is provided which is sintered by powder sintering so as to have high density, high seizure resistance and wear resistance. A wear-resistant iron-based sintered composite contact component composed of the wear-resistant iron-based sintered contact material sinter-bonded to a backing metal and its producing method are also provided. To this end, at least Cr7C3-type carbide and/or M6C-type carbide which have an average particle diameter of 5 ?m or more are precipitately dispersed in an amount of 20 to 50% by volume within an iron-based martensite parent phase which has a hardness of HRC 50 or more even when tempered at up to 600° C.

Abstract: The invention proposes a fine grained sintered cemented carbide containing chromium and based on WC and a binder based on Co or CoNiFe, and having at least one additional phase comprising at least one carbide or mixed carbide of tantalum. For improving the high-temperature properties while simultaneously maintaining a good trade-off between hardness and bending strength, it is proposed that the sintered cemented carbide contains approximately 0.3 to 4% Ta, as related to the total mass of the sintered cemented carbide, that the WC has a grain size of between 0.1 and 1.3 ?m, that the binder phase contains the metals W, Cr and Ta, dissolved in solid solution, and that the at least one additional phase comprises a TaC phase visible by optical microscopy. The invention further relates to a powder-metallurgical process for manufacturing the sintered cemented carbide and to the use of the sintered cemented carbide for manufacturing cutting tools having improved high-temperature properties.

Abstract: Erosion resistant coating processes and material improvements for line-of-sight applications. The erosion resistant coating composition includes nanostructured grains of tungsten carbide (WC) and/or submicron sized grains of WC embedded into a cobalt chromium (CoCr) binder matrix. A high velocity air fuel thermal spray process (HVAF) is used to create thick coatings in excess of about 500 microns with high percentages of primary carbide for longer life better erosion resistant coatings. These materials and processes are especially suited for hydroelectric turbine components.

Abstract: A composite material includes a double cemented carbide and a coarse grain dopant, wherein the coarse grain is added in an amount sufficient to improve wear resistance of virgin double cemented carbide. The double cemented carbide may selected from the group of carbides consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, and Cr carbides. The coarse grain dopant may also be at least one carbide selected from the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, and Cr carbides. The coarse grain carbide may be between about 5% to about 90% by weight of the total carbide in the composite. Preferably, the coarse grain carbide is about 10% to about 50% by weight of the total carbide in the composite.

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 comprises a binder phase consisting essentially of an iron family metal, a first hard phase consisting essentially of WC having a hexagonal crystal structure, and a second hard phase consisting essentially of one or more types of a compound of a metal or metals of group 4, 5 or 6 of the periodic table having an NaCl-type cubic crystal structure. The cemented carbide is formed by a surface region with a thickness of 2 to 50 ?m consisting of the binder phase and the first hard phase, and an inner region present underneath the surface region consisting of the binder phase, the first hard phase and the second hard phase. A ratio of an average grain size of the first hard phase in the surface region to an average grain size of the first hard phase in the inner region is 1 or less, and a ratio of an area of the binder phase in the surface region to an area of the binder phase in the inner region is greater than 1.

Abstract: A wear-resistant iron-based sintered contact material is provided which is sintered by powder sintering so as to have high density, high seizure resistance and wear resistance. A wear-resistant iron-based sintered composite contact component composed of the wear-resistant iron-based sintered contact material sinter-bonded to a backing metal and its producing method are also provided. To this end, at least Cr7C3-type carbide and/or M6C-type carbide which have an average particle diameter of 5 ?m or more are precipitately dispersed in an amount of 20 to 50% by volume within an iron-based martensite parent phase which has a hardness of HRC 50 or more even when tempered at up to 600° C.

Abstract: Cermets are provided in which a substantially stoichiometric metal carbide ceramic phase along with a reprecipitated metal carbide phase, represented by the formula MxCy, is dispersed in a metal binder phase. In MxCy M is Cr, Fe, Ni, Co, Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo or mixtures thereof, x and y are whole or fractional numerical values with x ranging from 1 to 30 and y from 1 to 6. These cermets are particularly useful in protecting surfaces from erosion and corrosion at high temperatures.

Abstract: There is disclosed a compositionally graded sintered alloy which comprises: 1 to 40% by weight of a iron group metal; 0.1 to 10% by weight of at least one type of a specific metal element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Au, Ge, Cu; Sn, Al, Ga, Ag, In, Mn and Pb; a hard phase containing, as a main component, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a nitride and a mutual solid solution of a metal(s) which belongs to Group 4 (Ti, Zr, Hf), 5 (V, Nb, Ta) or 6 (Cr, Mo, W) of the Periodic Table; and inevitable impurities, wherein the content of the specific metal element gradually increases from a surface of the sintered alloy toward an inner portion thereof, and a ratio of the average concentration of the specific metal element in a region which is at least 1 mm inside from the surface of the sintered alloy, to the average concentration of the specific metal element in a region between the surface and the position which is 0.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing molybdenum carbide from a precursor material includes a supply of process gas and a furnace defining at least a first heating zone and a second heating zone. The furnace heats the first heating zone to a first temperature and the second heating zone to a second temperature. The second temperature is at least about 100° C. hotter than the first temperature. A transfer system operatively associated with the furnace and the supply of process gas moves the precursor material through the first and second heating zones and in the presence of the process gas to form molybdenum carbide (MoC and Mo2C).

Abstract: This invention relates to a ductile binder phase for use with AlMgB14 and other hard materials. The ductile binder phase, a cobalt-manganese alloy, is used in appropriate quantities to tailor good hardness and reasonable fracture toughness for hard materials so they can be used suitably in industrial machining and grinding applications.

Abstract: Hardmetal compositions each including hard particles having a first material and a binder matrix having a second, different material comprising rhenium or a Ni-based superalloy. A two-step sintering process may be used to fabricate such hardmetals at relatively low sintering temperatures in the solid-state phase to produce substantially fully-densified hardmetals.

Abstract: A copper-based sliding material comprising sintered copper or sintered copper alloy, and 0.1 to 5 vol. % hard substance particles harder in hardness than said copper or copper alloy, said hard substance particles being substantially evenly dispersed so that, when at least one, randomly selected surface portion or sectional portion of said sintered copper or sintered copper alloy is partitioned into squares each having a side of 20 ?m, at least one particle exists in each of squares not less than 80% of the whole squares. The copper-based sliding material has good anti-seizure property and superior resistance to fatigue without containing any lead.

Abstract: A cemented carbide with excellent properties for oil and gas applications regarding resistance to the combined erosion and corrosion synergistic effects at temperatures between ?50 and 300° C. and toughness. This object has been achieved with a cemented carbide containing, in weight %, 8-12 Co+Ni with a weight ratio Co/Ni of 0.25-4, 1-2 Cr and 0.1-0.3 Mo wherein essentially all of the WC grains have a size <1 ?m and with a magnetic cobalt content between 80 and 90% of that chemically determined.

Abstract: A turbo component for a turbocharger in which heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance is superior, and in which the cost is further lowered, is provided. In the turbo component, the overall composition is, in ratio by mass, Cr: 23.8 to 44.3%, Mo: 1.0 to 3.0%, Si: 1.0 to 3.0%, P: 0.1 to 1.0%, C: 1.0 to 3.0%, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, and carbide is dispersed in the matrix at a density ratio of 95% or more.

Abstract: A method of making tungsten carbide and a method of making a densified tungsten carbide-containing ceramic body with a transverse rupture strength greater than 300,000 psi are disclosed.

Abstract: A porous metal body having a foam structure of 500 ?m or less in average pore diameter, wherein the skeleton is composed of an alloy primarily including Fe and Cr, and Cr carbide or FeCr carbide is uniformly dispersed in the texture. The metal porous body is produced by preparing a slurry primarily containing an Fe oxide powder having an average particle diameter of 5 ?m or less, at least one powder selected from metallic Cr, Cr alloys, and Cr oxides, a thermosetting resin, and a diluent, applying a coating of this slurry to a resin core body having a foam structure, performing drying, and thereafter, performing firing in a non-oxidizing atmosphere so as to produce a metal porous body having the aforementioned skeleton structure.

Abstract: Preparation, handling, and spray drying, in an economic and environmentally-friendly way, of slurries for the production of tungsten carbide based hard metal tools or components by the powder injection molding or extrusion route is disclosed. The slurry used is based on ethanol-water and contains metal carbide and metallic raw materials as well as stearic acid and a low concentration of polyethylenimine (PEI). The concentration of PEI is 0.01-1 wt % of the raw material weight. This combination results in low-viscous slurries, which require less use of ethanol, energy, manpower, and equipment time in their preparation, handling, and spray drying. The invention also relates to the powder obtained by using the method.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered alloy, which consists of from 0.5 to 5% of Ni, from 0.5 to 4% of Cr, from 0.5 to 2% of C, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and which has a micro-structure comprising an iron-based matrix containing Ni and a part of Cr as solutes and carbides containing the other part of Cr and dispersed in the matrix. The iron-based sintered alloy is appropriate for use as a valve seat of an internal combustion engine. Wear resistance is maintained at a moderate level while the additive amount of alloying elements is decreased to attain low cost.

Abstract: The invention proposes a fine grained sintered cemented carbide containing chromium and based on WC and a binder based on Co or CoNiFe, and having at least one additional phase comprising at least one carbide or mixed carbide of tantalum. For improving the high-temperature properties while simultaneously maintaining a good trade-off between hardness and bending strength, it is proposed that the sintered cemented carbide contains approximately 0.3 to 4% Ta, as related to the total mass of the sintered cemented carbide, that the WC has a grain size of between 0.1 and 1.3 &mgr;m, that the binder phase contains the metals W, Cr and Ta, dissolved in solid solution, and that the at least one additional phase comprises a TaC phase visible by optical microscopy. The invention further relates to a powder-metallurgical process for manufacturing the sintered cemented carbide and to the use of the sintered cemented carbide for manufacturing cutting tools having improved high-temperature properties.

Abstract: There is provided a cemented carbide comprising a hard phase component which comprises a tungsten carbide (WC) and at least one selected from carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of metals of the groups 4a, 5a and 6a in the periodic table; and a binder phase component comprising at least one of iron-group metals, wherein the surface region of the cemented carbide has 90-98% of the minimum hardness as compared with internal hardness, thereby having high hardness and toughness which is suitable to using as a cutting tool.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of method for the manufacture of carbide cermet powders, comprises high energy ball milling a mixture of precursor powders and a carbon source, followed by annealing the milled powder mixture. The precursor powders are selected from materials suitable for the formation of cermets, for example silicon, titanium, thorium, hafnium, vanadium, chromium, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium-containing materials. The precursors further include a source of carbon. Tungsten cobalt carbide powders produced by this method are submicron-sized (0.2 to 0.4 microns) with internal nanograins (10 to 40 nanometers in diameter).

Abstract: A process of making an article of a tungsten-carbide-cobalt alloy with or without an additive of one or more of tantalum, cobalt-nickel, nickel-tantalum, tantalum-carbide, titanium-carbide, niobium-carbide, chromium-carbide, titanium-nitride and diamond dust. The method includes forming a homogeneous mixture of polygonal-shaped powder tungsten-carbide-cobalt and a polygonal-shaped powder additive and a binder including wax and a high molecular weight polyolefin polymer and injecting the mixture under heat and pressure into a metal injection mold to form a green preform of the article. The green preform is immersed in a linear hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon or mixtures to dissolve and remove the wax and convert the green preform into a brown preform which is sintered to remove the remainder of the binder and to densify the brown preform into an article having a density not less than 98%. Various tungsten-carbide articles are disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a hardfacing composition for a drill bit, including a carbide phase including from about 50% to about 80% by weight of the hardfacing composition of a combination of 80 to 200 mesh macro-crystalline tungsten carbide and 80 to 200 mesh crushed cast carbide, the crushed cast carbide being about 5% to 50% of the total weight of the carbide phase, and a binder alloy comprising about 20% to about 50% by weight of the hardfacing composition is disclosed. A hardfacing composition for a drill bit, including a carbide phase composed of sintered tungsten carbide having a particle size from about 80 to 200 mesh that is about 50% to about 80% by weight of the hardfacing composition, and a binder alloy forming about 20% to about 50% by weight of the hardfacing composition.

Abstract: A copper-based sliding material comprising sintered copper or sintered copper alloy, and 0.1 to 5 vol. % hard substance particles harder in hardness than said copper or copper alloy, said hard substance particles being substantially evenly dispersed so that, when at least one, randomly selected surface portion or sectional portion of said sintered copper or sintered copper alloy is partitioned into squares each having a side of 20 &mgr;m, at least one particle exists in each of squares not less than 80% of the whole squares. The copper-based sliding material has good anti-seizure property and superior resistance to fatigue without containing any lead.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant, high strength austenitic stainless steel consisting of 1.0% or less of Si, 2.0% or less of Mn, 0.5% or less of O, 7 to 30% of Ni, 14 to 26% of Cr, 0.3% or less of combination of C and N, at least one element selected from the group consisting of 1.0% or less of Ti, 2.0% or less of Zr and 2.0% or less of Nb, and the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities, the percentage being given in weight basis; said steel containing carbonitride with a grain size of several to 100 nm dispersed therein; said steel having an average crystal grain size of 1 &mgr;m or less; and said steel containing 90% by volume or more of austenite phase; is excellent in strength and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A cutting tool insert has a cemented carbide substrate and a coating. The cemented carbide substrate includes 73-93 wt % WC, 4-12 wt % binder phase, and cubic carbide phase with a binder phase enriched surface zone essentially free of cubic carbide phase. The cubic carbide phase includes elements from the groups IVB and VB, with the Ta content on a level corresponding to a technical impurity. Inserts according to the invention exhibit favorable edge strength and thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: A die (20) comprises metal-rich sections (40a, 40b) which form an inner wall and an outer wall of the die (20), respectively. Gradient sections (42a, 42b) are disposed adjacent to the metal-rich sections (40a, 40b), respectively. Further, a ceramics-rich section (44) is disposed between the gradient sections (42a, 42b). A punch (30) comprises an inner ceramics-rich section (46), a gradient section (50), and an outer metal-rich section (48). In the die (20), the composition ratio of metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich sections (40a, 40b) to the ceramics-rich section (44). Similarly, in the punch (30), the composition ratio of the metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich section (48) to the ceramics-rich section (46).

Abstract: A thermal spray method for the fabrication of ceramic/metal and ceramic/ceramic hardcoating for wear applications. The method makes use of feedstock powder, composed of micron-scale aggregates of hard phase material particles that are either mixed or coated with a readily fusible nano-scale binder phase material. Thus, during thermal spraying, the nanostructured material undergoes rapid melting while the aggregated material is heated but not necessarily melted. A dense coating is formed when the molten nano-material fills the available pore spaces between the heated and softened aggregates, providing a strong and tough matrix for the consolidated material. Optimal wear properties are achieved when the volume fraction of aggregated particles is high, typically in the range of 0.5-0.9. Aggregated material may be composed of one, two or more particles of difference sizes and/or compositions, with particle size distribution that gives high packing density for the hard phase.

Abstract: A matrix powder for the production of components for wear-resistant applications by forming the matrix powder, along with an infiltrant, into a matrix, and and a wear-resistant component produced therefrom are presented. In order to improve mechanical properties, in particular resistance to erosion, it is proposed for at least some of the hard material to be in the form of spheroidal hard-material particles with a particle size of less than 500 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond cutter and method of manufacturing a polycrystalline diamond cutter is disclosed. The method of manufacture comprising assembling a first substrate component, a second notched substrate component and diamond crystals into a desired configuration. The assembly is subjected to high temperature and high pressure conditions to cause the diamond crystals to bond to one another and to the first and second substrate components. The method forms a cutter having a single body of polycrystalline diamond bonded to the substrate components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cutting tool insert consisting of a tungsten carbide based hard metal substrate and a coating. The hard metal consists of about 4-15 wt-% binder phase with face centered cubic structure and a composition of 35-65 wt-% Fe and 35-65 wt-% Ni in addition to dissolved elements. As a result, inserts have been produced with at least as good performance in machining as conventional state-of-the-art inserts with Co-based binder phase. The insert can be applied in milling and turning of low and medium alloyed steels as well as stainless steels.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered alloy, which consists of from 0.5 to 5% of Ni, from 0.5 to 4% of Cr, from 0.5 to 2% of C, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and which has a micro-structure comprising an iron-based matrix containing Ni and a part of Cr as solutes and carbides containing the other part of Cr and dispersed in the matrix. The iron-based sintered alloy is appropriate for use as a valve seat of an internal combustion engine. Wear resistance is maintained at a moderate level while the additive amount of alloying elements is decreased to attain low cost.

Abstract: A nanostructured tungsten carbide bulk material, sintered from tungsten carbide and metal such as cobalt nano-powders, comprises a tungsten carbide and a metallic binder such as cobalt phases. The tungsten carbide phase has nanostructures comprising a plurality of dislocations, twins, stacking faults, dislocation cells, nano-subgrains with preferred orientation or texture, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A cemented carbide seal ring has at least one hard phase in a binder phase based on Co, Ni and Fe which results in a content Fe, Ni and Cr of less than 50 &mgr;g/l of each in a leach test with deionized water at 85° C. performed according to the requirements of British Standard BS6920: Section 2.6: 1996.

Abstract: A superfine material made by incorporation of an inorganic polymer precursor of a grain growth inhibitor into intermediates useful for the production of superfine materials. The precursor/nanostructured material composite is optionally heat treated at a temperature below the grain growth temperature of the superfine material in order to more effectively disperse the precursor. The composites are then heat treated at a temperature effective to decompose the precursor and to form superfine materials having grain growth inhibitors uniformly distributed at the grain boundaries. Synthesis of the inorganic polymer solution comprises forming an inorganic polymer from a solution of metal salts, filtering the polymer, and drying. Alloying additives as well as grain growth inhibitors may be incorporated into the superfine materials.

Abstract: A method of making tungsten carbide and a method of making a densified tungsten carbide-containing ceramic body with a transverse rupture strength greater than 300,000 psi are disclosed.

Abstract: A hardfacing composition for a drill bit is disclosed which includes a carbide phase made from about 80% to less than 100% by weight of a combination of sintered carbide pellets and crushed cast carbide and from more than 0% to about 20% by weight of carburized tungsten carbide. The composition includes a binder alloy. A roller cone drill bit includes a bit body and at least one roller cone rotatably mounted to the bit body. The at least one roller cone includes at least one cutting element. The cutting element has on its exterior surface a hardfacing. The hardfacing on the cutting element was formed with a hardfacing composition that includes a binder alloy and a carbide phase, which includes from about 80% to less than 100% by weight of a combination of sintered carbide pellets and crushed cast carbide, and from more than 0% to about 20% by weight of carburized tungsten carbide.

Abstract: A product having a chromium carbide based cemented carbide composition with a nickel and/or chromium based binder is disclosed. It possesses excellent corrosion resistance in combination with good strength and hardness/abrasion resistance. The average chromium carbide grain size is less than 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A corrosion and oxidation resistant cemented carbide contains WC and 6-15 wt. % binder phase whereby the binder phase contains 8-12 wt. % of a corrosion resisting addition with an average WC grain size of 3-10 &mgr;m. Cemented carbide is obtained with selection of a total carbon content of 6.13−((0.05±0.007)×binder phase content in wt. %).

Abstract: A product having a chromium carbide based cemented carbide composition with a nickel and/or chromium based binder is disclosed. It possesses excellent corrosion resistance in combination with good strength and hardness/abrasion resistance. The average chromium carbide grain size is less than 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The invention relates to sintered particles for use in wear applications and to a process for producing the sintered particles. The particles are of substantially spheroidal shape, have a grain size of 20 to 180 &mgr;m and have a predominantly closed porosity or are free of pores. The process for producing such particles starts from a powder material with a partially porous internal structure, which is introduced into a furnace and sintered at a temperature at which the material of the metallic binder adopts a pasty state while applying pressure to reduce the pore content of the starting material.

Abstract: This disclosure features a process of making a two part drill bit insert, namely, a body portion of hard particles such as tungsten carbide particles mixed in an alloy binding the particles. The alloy preferably comprises 6% cobalt with amounts up to about 10% permitted. The body is sintered into a solid member, and also joined to a PDC crown covering the end. The crown is essentially free of cobalt. The process sinters the crown and body while preserving the body and crown cobalt differences.

Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) carbide composites of this invention have a microstructure comprising a plurality of granules formed from PCD, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, or mixture thereof, that are distributed within a substantially continuous second matrix region that substantially surrounds the granules and that is formed from a cermet material. In an example embodiment, the granules are polycrystalline diamond and the cermet material is cemented tungsten carbide. PCD carbide composites of this invention display improved properties of fracture toughness and chipping resistance, without substantially compromising wear resistance, when compared to conventional pure PCD materials.

Abstract: A cemented carbide seal ring has at least one hard phase in a binder phase based on Co, Ni and Fe which results in a content Fe, Ni and Cr of less than 50 &mgr;g/l of each in a leach test with deionized water at 85° C. performed according to the requirements of British Standard BS6920: Section 2.6: 1996.