The present invention relates to a method for producing metal-comprising geometrically complex pieces and/or parts. The method is specially indicated for highly performant components. It is disclosed a method for the production of complex geometry, and even large, highly performant metal-comprising components in a cost effective way. The method is also indicated for the construction of components with internal features and voids. The method is also beneficial for light construction. The method allows the reproduction of bio-mimetic structures and other advanced structures for topological performance optimization.

A method for forming tungsten-refractory metal alloy powders, and tungsten-refractory metal alloy powders formed by the method. The method includes mixing a majority portion by weight of a base tungsten powder with a minority portion by weight of a base refractory metal powder to form a mixture, which is then milled for a period of time sufficient to at least partially mechanically alloy the base tungsten powder and base refractory metal powder together to form at-least-partially-mechanically-alloyed particles, which are then heat treated to a temperature sufficient to promote diffusion between tungsten and the refractory metal and obtain agglomerations of particles having only a tungsten phase, which are then milled to break up the agglomerations of particles and obtain the tungsten-refractory metal alloy powder.

A mixture for forming a wear resistant layer on a substrate comprises particles of a first wear resistant particle type, particles of a second wear resistant particle type and a wear resistant layer binder for binding the first and the second wear resistant particles in the wear resistant layer when the layer is formed. As well, wear resistant particle size distributions for the first and second wear resistant particle types have a first mode and a second mode. The first particle type is associated with the first mode and the second particle type is associated with the second mode. Moreover, a number of first wear resistant particles associated with the first mode is larger than a number of second wear resistant particles associated with the second mode. Further, the second mode is larger than the first mode.

The present disclosure provides a powder material that makes it possible to achieve higher flowability than before and to increase the crushing strength of particles. The powder material of the present disclosure has a dendritic structure 1. The dendritic structure 1 has a cemented carbide composition or a cermet composition.

The present disclosure relates to a method of making a powder of dense and spherically shaped cemented carbide or cermet granules. The present disclosure also relates to a powder produced by the method and use of said powder in additive manufacturing such as 3D printing by the binder jetting technique. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) process for manufacturing a product by using said powder.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, γ-Fe and magnesium nitride.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

A method of making a 3D printed cermet or cemented carbide body including a hard phase and a metallic binder phase whereby the 3D printed green body is subjected to a sintering process including a holding step prior to a liquid phase sintering step. The sintered bodies have a reduced porosity.

An apparatus is disclosed to create a breakaway junction for 3D printed parts. Powder is spread along a target zone, such as a build bed. A liquid functional agent is selectively dispensed upon the powder to form a 3D object, a supporting part, and the breakaway junction between them.

Provided are a WC-based cemented carbide powder from which a WC-based cemented carbide member excellent in high thermal conductivity and high abrasion resistance can be manufactured, a WC-based cemented carbide member, and a manufacturing method for a WC-based cemented carbide member. The WC-based cemented carbide powder of the present invention includes WC, Cu, and at least one of Co, Fe, and Cr. The content of WC is equal to or more than 40 mass %, the content of at least one of Co, Fe, and Cr is equal to or more than 25 mass % and less than 60 mass %, and the ratio a/b of the content ‘a’ of Cu and the content ‘b’ of at least one of Co, Fe, and Cr satisfies 0.070≤a/b≤1.000.