Lightweight cemented carbide
AssigneeHyperion Materials & Technologies, Inc.
InventorsNuria Cinca I Luis, Laura Larrimbe, Jose Maria Tarrago, Stefan Ederyd
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Abstract
Provided is a cemented carbide suitable for use as a material in the manufacture of a punch for metal forming and in particular for the manufacture of metal beverage cans. The cemented carbide may include a hard phase that includes WC, a binder phase and a gamma phase. The gamma phase may include metal carbides in combination with metal nitrides or metal carbonitrides. A quotient of the average grain size of WC/the average grain size of the gamma phase may be in a range of from 0.5 to 1.5.
Claims15
A cemented carbide, comprising:
- a hard phase comprising WC, the WC being present in an amount of from 50 to 70 wt. % based on a total weight of the cemented carbide;
- a binder phase comprising Co, Ni, Fe, Mo, and Cr, the Cr being present in an amount of from 0.2 wt. % to 0.6 wt. % based on a total weight of the cemented carbide;
- and
- a gamma phase comprising at least one metal carbide in combination with at least one metal nitride and/or metal carbonitride,
- wherein a quotient of an average grain size of the WC/an average grain size of the gamma phase is in a range of from 0.5 to 1.5, and
- wherein the cemented carbide has a fracture toughness in a range of from 10 MPa m1/2 to 11 MPa m1/2.
A method of making a cemented carbide comprising a hard phase including WC, a binder phase, and a gamma phase, the method comprising:
- preparing a batch of powdered materials comprising WC, the WC being present in an amount of from 50 to 70 wt. % based on a total weight of the batch of powdered materials, binder phase constituents comprising Co, Ni, Fe, Mo, and Cr, and gamma phase constituents comprising at least one metal carbide in combination with at least one metal nitride and/or metal carbonitride;
- milling the batch of powdered materials;
- pressing the milled batch of powdered materials to form a pre-compact;
- and
- sintering the pre-compact,
- wherein in the sintered pre-compact, a quotient of an average grain size of the WC/an average grain size of the gamma phase is in a range of from 0.5 to 1.5,
- wherein the Cr is present in the cemented carbide in an amount of from 0.2 wt. % to 0.6 wt. % based on a total weight of the cemented carbide, and
- wherein the cemented carbide has a fracture toughness in a range of from 10 MPa m1/2 to 11 MPa m1/2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.