Reasoning about Processes: A Case Study

An improvement in a cemented carbide is disclosed. Molybdenum, tungsten and carbon are mixed and heated in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere to form a tungsten-molybdenum carbonitride (Mo, W) (C, N) having the structure of tungsten carbide. The molybdenum-tungsten carbonitride is mixed with a binder metal (and, if desired, another hard material) and sintered in a conventional manner to form a dense, substantially pore-free material which is similar in a number of properties to the more expensive tungsten carbide.