Cermets

Background

Cermets are sometimes used instead of tungsten carbide in particular metal cutting and other applications. The name itself reflects the nature of the material as they have properties that are a mix of both ceramics and metals. The metal matrix often contains titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), or titanium carbide (TiC) as the base metal, but other metal nitrides and carbides are also used.

Cermets are often used in applications where coating of a tungsten carbide tool is not feasible or practical. An uncoated cermet cutting tool can many times outperform uncoated tungsten carbide tools as interaction (and hence wear) with the work piece material is much less pronounced, particularly at higher working temperatures.

While cermets inherit this increased wear resistance, they also exhibit reduced toughness; hence a need to deploy cermet based solutions in cutting conditions that are controlled.

 

Cermet Manufacturing

Cermets are produced in the same flow as tungsten carbide although it starts with different raw materials. To view the process flow for tungsten carbide, visit our cemented carbide page.

 

Development of New Grades

Hyperion is continuously developing new cermet based materials. In 2017, Hyperion established a new Carbide Research & Development Center, located in Barcelona. The R&D Center employs researchers focused on developing next generation materials, products, and process technologies. 

 

Product and Solutions

Please visit our Product pages for solutions based on cermet materials:

Toolmaker Solutions

 

Engineered Solutions

 

Your Hyperion salesperson can offer their expertise in selecting the cermet product best suited to solve your needs.