Method of making a submicron cemented carbide powder mixture with low compacting pressure and the resulting powder

摘要

There is disclosed a method of making a ready to press cemented carbide powder with low compaction pressure suitable for the production of submicron cemented carbide by means of powder metallurgical techniques milling, pressing and sintering. The method comprises using from about 1 to about 3 wt-% pressing agent with the following composition, less than about 90 wt-% PEG and from about 10 to about 75 wt-% of blends of high molecular (C12-C20) saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, or salts thereof containing at least one element of Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Mg, N, Na, V, Zn. Preferably the grain size of the cemented carbide powder is submicron. In a preferred embodiment the method includes a dry pre-milling of the hard constituents mainly WC-powder for about 2-45 hours in ball mills with cemented carbide milling bodies or using other suitable dry milling techniques prior to a wet milling step. The invention also relates to the powder obtained by the method.