. Introduction
The Widia (Wie Diamant — as diamond, from the German), also
known as cemented carbide or hard metal, is a material consisting
of hard particles of carbide embedded in a metallic matrix. It is produced
through the sintering process, that is fine powders of the components
are mixed, pressed and then heated [1–3] to form a single
piece. These materials are not metals, but carbides (80–95%) bound
to a metal. The carbides frequently used are based on tungsten (WC),
titanium (TiC) and tantalum (TaC), whereas the metallic matrix is
often cobalt.