Novel ultra-coarse hardmetal grades with reinforced binder for mining and construction

Novel ultra-coarse WC-Co grades with a Co-based binder reinforced with nano-particles have been developed and implemented in industry on a large scale. The new grades with the brand name MASTER GRADES®, consist of rounded WC grains and the Co-based binder comprising nano-particles of the θ-phase (Co2W4C). The new hardmetal grades are characterised by a combination of higher hardness and transverse rupture strength as result of the binder hardening and reinforcement. Wear-resistance of the new grades in laboratory tests on abrasion, cutting of granite and abrasive concrete is found to be 2-3 times higher than that of standard grades with the same Co content and similar WC mean grain size. Life of mining and construction tools with the MASTER GRADES® is dramatically prolonged as a result of their enhanced wear-resistance and resistance to the initiation and propagation of thermal and fatigue cracks.