Spinodal carbonitride alloys for tool and wear applications

Claim 1

A composition of material comprising sintered carbonitride-binder metal alloys in which the carbonitride has the formula (Ti x M y )(C u N v ) z , where M is a Group VI metal, with x + y = 1, u + v = 1, and 0.80 ≦ z ≦ 1.07, and where the value of y is from 0.04 to 0.40 and the range of the value of v is a function of y, with the upper limit of the value of v as a function of y being defined by the line ED of FIG. 1 and the lower limit of the value of v as a function of y being defined by the line AB of FIG. 1, in which the binder is selected from metals of the iron group and metals of the group VI refractory transition metals and comprises between 5 and 45 weight percent of the composition, and in which the carbonitride component of the alloy is a two phase mixture comprising a titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride solid solution, and another hard phase which is rich in the group VI metal components and poor in nitrogen, and the two-phase mixture forming a microstructure in which the titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride phase is surrounded by the phase rich in group VI metals but poor in nitrogen and forms the main interface with the binder alloy.

Claim 14

The method of forming a composition of material comprising sintered carbonitride-binder metal alloys, in which the carbonitride has the formula (Ti x M y ) (C u N v ) z , where M is a group VI metal, with x + y = 1, u + v = 1, and 0.80 ¢z¢1.07, and where the value of y is from 0.04 to 0.40 and the range of the value of v is a function of y, with the upper limit of the value of v as a function of y being defind by the line ED of FIG. 1 and the lower limit of the vaue of v as a function of y being defined by the line AB of FIG. 1, and in which the carbonitride component of the alloy is a two-phase mixture comprising a titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitide solid solution, and another hard phase which is rich in the group VI metal components and poor in nitrogen, and the two-phase mixture forming a microstructure in which the titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride phase is surrounded by the phase rich in group VI metals but poor in nitrogen and forms the main interface with the binder alloy, comprising the steps of: forming carbonitride alloy powders by reacting mixtures of metal and metal carbide powders with niteogen gas at temperatures between 1400° and 1800°C to form a homogeneous solution at these temperatures; cooling the carbonitride alloy powder to cause it to decompose into a two-phase mixture comprising a titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride solid solution, and another hard phase which is rich in the group VI metal components and poor in nitrogen, with the two-phase mixture forming a microstructure in which the titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride phase is surrounded by the phase rich in group VI metals but poor in nitrogen; adding binder material to the mixture; mechanically milling the mixture under inert fluids until it has uniform consistency and the desired grain size; compacting the mixture into a desired shape; and sintering the compacts so formed at an elevated temperature.

Claim 15

The method of forming a composition of material comprising sintered carbonitride-binder metal alloys, in which the carbonitride has the formula (Ti x M y ) (C u N v ) z , where M is a group VI metal, with x + y = 1, u + v = 1, and 0.80 ¢z¢1.07, and where the value of y is from 0.04 to 0.40 and the range of the value of v is a function of y, with the upper limit of the value of v as a function of y being defind by the line ED of FIG. 1 and the lower limit of the vaue of v as a function of y being defined by the line AB of FIG. 1, and in which the carbonitride component of the alloy is a two-phase mixture comprising a titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitide solid solution, and another hard phase which is rich in the group VI metal components and poor in nitrogen, and the two-phase mixture forming a microstructure in which the titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride phase is surrounded by the phase rich in group VI metals but poor in nitrogen and forms the main interface with the binder alloy, comprising the steps of: forming carbonitride alloy powders by reacting mixtures of metal and metal carbide powders with niteogen gas at temperatures between 1400° and 1800°C to form a homogeneous solution at these temperatures; cooling the carbonitride alloy powder to cause it to decompose into a two-phase mixture comprising a titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride solid solution, and another hard phase which is rich in the group VI metal components and poor in nitrogen, with the two-phase mixture forming a microstructure in which the titanium and nitrogen-rich carbonitride phase is surrounded by the phase rich in group VI metals but poor in nitrogen; adding binder material to the mixture; mechanically milling the mixture under inert fluids until it has uniform consistency and the desired grain size; compacting the mixture into a desired shape; and sintering the compacts so formed at an elevated temperature.