Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Image taken by a high-speed camera during molding with the rod‑leading method. (CREDIT: International Journal of Refractory Metals ...

The approach uses 3D printing to produce WC-Co cemented carbides - ultra-hard materials used in cutting and construction tools - while reducing the waste and cost of conventional manufacturing.

Hard materials keep modern life moving, from drill bits to cutting tools. One of the toughest is tungsten carbide with cobalt, often shortened to WC–Co. It lasts a long time and resists wear, but ...