Advanced and new grades of WC and binder powder - their properties and application

This paper deals with properties and applications of advanced WC and new (Fe/Ni/Co) powders. Special attention is focused on (1) fine-grained and highly sinteractive (Fe/Ni/Co) powder and (2) ultrafine WC powder with linear WC intercepts averaging 100-130 nm in structures of WC-10 wt% Co hardmetals. The quality, individual features and properties of the new powders are shown to be a key factor in achieving excellent and improved properties and performance of hardmetals and diamond tools. A number of correlations are established between powder properties, sintering behaviour and hardmetal structures and properties. In addition to other well-known parameters, the lattice microstructure, as well as the mixed-crystal phases of the new powders, are shown to be essential for optimized sintering, structure formation and improved properties of the tool materials. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.