Development of Technology for Reducing Tungsten Usage for Cemented Carbide Tools

Abstract

In the Rare Metal Substitute Materials Development Project of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, dysprosium for a rare-earth magnet, indium for a transparent conducting electrode and tungsten for a cemented carbide tool are taken up, and sustained development of Japanese industry is supported. Tungsten is one of the resources unevenly distributed in China, and has and anxiety of the stable supply in the future. Tungsten is used as cemented carbide for manufacturing tools in our country. To reduce tungsten usage in the carbide tools, we are developing new technology in this project. One is development of a hybrid type-cutting tool, and another one is development of a composite structured hard material tool. In this paper, we introduce the technology for reducing tungsten usage in hard materials.