Binding agents are required in combination with solids to manufacture moulded parts from carbons, metal carbides and metallic oxides. For carbons the most commonly used binding agents are coaltar pitch or resins, for metal carbides they are nickel or cobalt, sometimes with admixtures of chromium and molybdenum. Type and quantity of the binder exert a great influence on the material characteristics. Cf. sintering, impregnation.