In order to clarify the wear resistance as cutting tools, the effect of oxygen addition on oxidation behavior of the β-Si3N4 ceramics with 5 mass% Y2O3 and 2 or 4 mass% Al2O3 was investigated by performing oxidation tests in air at 1300° to 1400°C and cutting performance tests. From test results, we could conclude that the mechanical properties of β-Si3N4 ceramics depending on oxygen introduction are much effective on cutting performance improvements of β-Si3N4 ceramics.

WC-TiC-TaC binderless cemented carbide was oxidized under low partial pressure of oxygen (50ppm) at 873K for 1 to 20 h. Surface roughness was measured using atomic force microscope, and effect of TiC amount on oxidation behavior of the carbide was investigated. WC phase was oxidized more easily than WC-TiC-TaC solid solution phase. With an increase in TiC amount, WC-TiC-TaC phase increased and the oxidation resistance of the carbide increased.

We have studied the effect of C/Ti atomic ratio of TiCx (x=0.5, 0.75 and 1.0) raw powder on the properties of the Ti-Mo-WTiC sintered hard alloy. The decrease of C/Ti atomic ratio accelerated the densification in the sintering process. The hardness was remarkably improved up to 1350HV with decreasing the C/Ti atomic ratio because of increase of TiCx phase volume content and its fine dispersion. From the results of electro-chemical tests in acid and 3% NaCl solutions, it was obvious that every alloy had excellent corrosion resistance, which meant about 200 times better than that of WC-Co cemented carbide.

Copper-10 wt. % tungsten alloyed powder was obtained by co-reduction of mixed tungsten-trioxide and copper oxide powders at 973 K for 7.2 Ks. In the alloy obtained by pressure-assisted sintering of this co-reduced powder, ultra fine tungsten particles (about 100nm) were dispersed uniformly in the copper matrix. At room temperature, the hardness of this alloy was Hv151 and the electrical conductivity was 85% IACS. After annealing at 1173 K for 3.6 Ks, the hardness and electrical conductivity were Hv147 and 84% IACS, respectively, and were same as before annealing. It was confirmed that the hardness and electrical conductivity of this alloy were hardly influenced by annealing condition since the microstructure of this alloy is highly stabilized.