Abrasion resistance, high temperature properties or corrosion resistance of the binder metal can be adjusted by controlling the relative amounts of iron cobalt and nickel. A further advantage of this binder system compared to cobalt, they say, is the significantly lower inhalation toxicity of the hardmetal powders or grinding dust.

A further plus point for the use of iron as the base for the new materials is the abundance of this element in the earth’s crust. Unlike cobalt, iron is a very common element, mostly originating from politically stable countries and is consequently not subject to such price volatility as cobalt. In specific hard metal applications the binder can also contain certain quantities of cobalt, depending on the required material and process characteristics.

A direct comparison of physical data between the conventional cobalt binder and the new AMPERSINT® MAP clearly shows the potential of the new material, said an H C Starck spokesman. “We think that the improved hardness combined with increased toughness will leads the way to its preferred use in a wide range of hard metal application fields.”

Further details: www.hcstarck.com