Trends in the P/M hard metal industry

•Overview of current selected R&D trends in the cemented carbide industry•R&D areas with a large number of publications, indicating emerging areas, techniques and trends•Coupling between experiments and modelling at different scales•High resolution microscopy and 3-dimensional characterisation and modelling of microstructure•Fine grained materials, interfaces, alternative binders, alternative sintering techniques, and gradients

The intention of this paper is to give an overview of selected R&D trends in the cemented carbide field, focusing on work performed in recent years. Due to the large activity in the field, it is not feasible to give a comprehensive review of all research activities in the hard metal industry and academia. Therefore, focus has been given to areas with a large number of publications in journals on the field of cemented carbides, cermets and powder metallurgy of hard materials, which indicates interesting emerging areas, techniques and trends. Such areas include fine grained materials, interfaces, alternative binders, alternative sintering techniques, and gradients; high resolution microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. Amongst emerging trends, coupling between experiments and modelling at different scales is growing, as well as three dimensional modelling of microstructure evolution. Trends are discussed and an outlook for future development in the respective fields is given.