An anvil including a hard phase and a metal matrix in which the hard phase is dispersed, a concentration of the metal matrix phase varying according to a concentration gradient, is disclosed. The anvil may be used in a high pressure press. Methods of making an anvil including forming a hard phase dispersed in a metal matrix phase, a concentration of the metal matrix phase varying according to a concentration gradient, are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a PCD composite compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded at an interface to a cemented carbide substrate; the PCD structure comprising coherently bonded diamond grains having a mean size no greater than 15 microns; the cemented carbide substrate comprising carbide particles dispersed in a metallic binder, the carbide particles comprising a carbide compound of a metal; wherein the ratio of the amount of metallic binder to the amount of the metal at points in the substrate deviates from a mean value by at most 20 percent of the mean value. The invention further relates to a method for making a PDC compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded to a substrate formed of cemented carbide; the method including introducing a source of excess carbon to the substrate at a bonding surface of the substrate to form a carburised substrate; contacting an aggregated mass of diamond grains with the carburised substrate; and sintering the diamond grains in the presence of a solvent/catalyst material for diamond; wherein the mean size of the diamond grains in the aggregated mass is no greater than 30 microns.

The invention relates to a PCD composite compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded at an interface to a cemented carbide substrate; the PCD structure comprising coherently bonded diamond grains having a mean size no greater than 15 microns; the cemented carbide substrate comprising carbide particles dispersed in a metallic binder, the carbide particles comprising a carbide compound of a metal; wherein the ratio of the amount of metallic binder to the amount of the metal at points in the substrate deviates from a mean value by at most 20 percent of the mean value. The invention further relates to a method for making a PDC compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded to a substrate formed of cemented carbide; the method including introducing a source of excess carbon to the substrate at a bonding surface of the substrate to form a carburised substrate; contacting an aggregated mass of diamond grains with the carburised substrate; and sintering the diamond grains in the presence of a solvent/catalyst material for diamond; wherein the mean size of the diamond grains in the aggregated mass is no greater than 30 microns.

A super hard polycrystalline construction is disclosed as comprising a body of super hard material having a first fraction of super hard grains in a matrix of a second fraction of super hard grains. The average grain size of the first fraction is between around 1.5 to around 10 times the average grain size of the second fraction and the first fraction comprises around 5 vol % to around 30 vol % of the grains of super hard material in the body.

An insert includes a base of a cermet including hard particles and a binder phase. The base includes first and second surfaces, a cutting edge on at least a part of a ridge line of the first and second surfaces, a third surface opposite to the first surface, and a through hole from the first surface to the third surface. An inner wall constituting the through hole includes a binder-phase-riched layer having a higher content of the binder phase than an inside of the base, at least in a center part. A thickness of the binder-phase-ricked layer in the center part is larger than a thickness of the binder-phase-ricked layer in an end part of the inner wall. A cutting tool includes a holder which has a pocket located at an end, the insert located in the pocket, and a clamp inserted in the through hole of the insert.

An insert includes a base of a cermet including hard particles and a binder phase. The base includes first and second surfaces, a cutting edge on at least a part of a ridge line of the first and second surfaces, a third surface opposite to the first surface, and a through hole from the first surface to the third surface. An inner wall constituting the through hole includes a binder-phase-riched layer having a higher content of the binder phase than an inside of the base, at least in a center part. A thickness of the binder-phase-ricked layer in the center part is larger than a thickness of the binder-phase-ricked layer in an end part of the inner wall. A cutting tool includes a holder which has a pocket located at an end, the insert located in the pocket, and a clamp inserted in the through hole of the insert.

The present invention relates to a coated cutting tool including a Cr-containing cemented carbide substrate having WC, a binder phase and a gamma phase. The cemented carbide includes a gradient surface zone with a thickness of between 2 to 100 μm, which is binder phase enriched and depleted of gamma phase. The cemented carbide includes M.sub.7C.sub.3 carbides in an amount of between 0.5 to 7 area % measured in the bulk, where M is elements being Cr, W and at least one binder metal. The coated cutting inserts shows an improved edge line toughness.

The present invention relates to a coated cutting tool including a Cr-containing cemented carbide substrate having WC, a binder phase and a gamma phase. The cemented carbide includes a gradient surface zone with a thickness of between 2 to 100 μm, which is binder phase enriched and depleted of gamma phase. The cemented carbide includes M.sub.7C.sub.3 carbides in an amount of between 0.5 to 7 area % measured in the bulk, where M is elements being Cr, W and at least one binder metal. The coated cutting inserts shows an improved edge line toughness.

A method of redistributing the binder phase of a cemented carbide mining insert having one or more hard-phase components and a binder includes the steps of: a) providing a green cemented carbide mining insert; b) applying at least one binder puller selected from a metal oxide or a metal carbonate to the surface of the green cemented carbide mining insert; and c) sintering the green cemented carbide mining insert, the metal oxide or metal carbonate being only applied to at least one local area on the surface of the green cemented carbide mining insert. Moreover, a cemented carbide having a hardness gradient and the use thereof is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to a cutting tool including a cemented carbide substrate having WC, gamma phase and a binder phase. The substrate is provided with a binder phase enriched surface zone, which is depleted of gamma phase, wherein no graphite and no ETA phase is present in the microstructure and wherein the binder phase is a high entropy alloy.