Since the invention of cemented carbide about 100 years ago, it has developed through extensive research in both its fundamental and applied fields. In recent years, the manufacturing industry has demanded higher productivity and efficiency, which requires further improvements in cemented carbides. This study began with the steel cord wire drawing dies, which are categorized as wear-resistant tools. It was found that the interface properties of WC significantly impact on the lifetime of steel cord wire drawing. In the wear of cemented carbide dies for steel cord wire drawing, HIP-processed alloys with TaNbC addition showed excellent performance, and further annealing treatment dramatically improved lifetime by a factor of about five. Moreover, ultrafine cemented carbide with fine particle Ti(C,N) additives, which improved interface properties, was found to have a significant effect on inhibiting the growth of WC grains by pinning WC particle surfaces with fine Ti(C,N) particles. Furthermore, ultrafine cemented carbide with a composite addition of fine Ti(C,N) and Cr₃C₂ achieved world-leading strength, recording an average transverse rupture strength of 4.6 GPa and a maximum strength of 5.0 GPa. Tests with this Ti(C,N)-Cr₃C₂ composite-added ultrafine cemented carbide on actual equipment showed results that outperformed conventional products in all cases.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend for shorter machining time and a shift to dry cutting without the use of cutting fluids. These are expected to reduce power consumption from the standpoint of reducing environmental impact, as well as improve productivity through more efficient machining conditions. These factors cause the cutting edge to a rise in temperature during cutting, and because inserts are used in harsh environments, higher performance is required than in the past. In response to this trend, various technologies have been developed for inserts. Coated cemented carbide inserts have well-balanced wear resistance and chipping resistance compared with uncoated inserts made of other materials. Ceramic coatings applied to inserts include chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coating and physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating. This paper reports on CVD coating technologies.

Hard coatings are used for wear resistance applications, particularly to improve the performance of cutting tools. These cutting tools are mainly coated with TiAlN, TiSiN, and AlCrN. Especially, high aluminum coating and nano-composite coatings exhibit excellent performance. These coatings can significantly improve machining efficiency due to excellent coating properties. Currently, coating technology has evolved significantly in terms of coating composition and deposition equipment. As a result, coating composition and structure have become more complex, and performance has become more advanced. These technologies are based on fundamental PVD technology and hard coatings. This article reviews fundamental PVD technology and hard coatings and provides an overview of the latest technological trends.

Ti(C,N)-based cermets have higher hardness and superior resistance to adhesion compared to cemented carbides and are therefore widely used as cutting tool materials. However, their strength and toughness are lower than those of cemented carbides, making them more susceptible to chipping and fracture during cutting operations. To improve the fracture resistance of cermets, methods such as the addition of a third element like tungsten (W) and optimization of nitrogen content have been employed. Nevertheless, in order to meet the demands of severe cutting conditions in high-efficiency machining, it is essential to further enhance fracture resistance. In response, our company has developed and commercialized a high-strength, ultrafine-grained Ti(C,N)-based cermet by refining the Ti(C,N) particles to improve cutting performance. In this paper, we introduce the property improvements achieved by refining Ti(C,N) particles and the related sintering technology.

WC-Cr₃C₂-Ni cemented carbides with improved corrosion resistance are widely used as sliding components in industrial pumps. Firstly, this report presents research on the mechanical properties, corrosion mechanisms, seawater corrosion, and galvanic corrosion of WC-Cr₃C₂-Ni cemented carbides. Next, it discusses the sliding characteristics of cemented carbides, including the mechanism of sliding crack formation and the improvement of lubrication properties through the dispersion of spherical carbon. This report summarizes the advancements in the applicability of cemented carbides as sliding materials.