What Is Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten carbide is a hard, dense material used in cutting tools, wear parts, and industrial components. Learn about its composition, manufacturing, properties, and applications.
What Tungsten Carbide Actually Is
Tungsten carbide is a compound of tungsten and carbon in equal atomic proportions, formed through high-temperature sintering of tungsten powder and carbon black. It is a dense, hard material used in industrial applications where wear resistance and hardness are critical. The material is typically bonded with cobalt to improve toughness and sinterability.
Composition and Manufacturing Process
Tungsten carbide is produced by mixing tungsten powder and carbon black, then sintering the mixture at approximately 2,600°C. Cobalt is added in varying amounts to act as a binder, improving the material's toughness and enabling densification during sintering. The resulting structure consists of hard tungsten carbide grains embedded in a cobalt matrix.
Key Properties and Performance
Tungsten carbide has a Mohs hardness of 9 to 9.5, second only to diamond. It maintains its hardness at high temperatures and resists abrasion, wear, and corrosion. These properties make it suitable for cutting tools, wear parts, and components exposed to harsh environments.
Common Industrial Applications
Tungsten carbide is used in cutting tools such as drills, end mills, inserts, and lathe tools. It is also used in mining and drilling equipment, oil and gas industry components, nozzles, valve seats, pump seals, bearings, and wear-resistant parts. It is also used in jewelry due to its scratch resistance.
Material Trade-Offs
While tungsten carbide is extremely hard and wear-resistant, it is brittle and less tough than some metals. This limits its use in applications involving high impact or shock loading. The cobalt content in the grade determines the balance between hardness and toughness.
Questions Buyers Ask
What is the difference between tungsten carbide and cobalt?
Tungsten carbide is a compound of tungsten and carbon, known for hardness and wear resistance. Cobalt is a metal binder added to tungsten carbide to improve toughness and sinterability. The two are not interchangeable; cobalt is used to bond tungsten carbide grains.
Can tungsten carbide be machined after sintering?
Yes, but only with diamond tools or grinding. Tungsten carbide is too hard for conventional machining with steel tools. It is typically ground or cut using diamond abrasives after sintering.
What grades of tungsten carbide do you produce?
Grades produced include YL10.2, YG6, YG6X, YG8, YG8X, YG10, YG12, YG15, YG15X, YN6, YN9. Each grade has different cobalt content and grain size, affecting hardness and toughness.
Is tungsten carbide used in high-temperature environments?
Yes. Tungsten carbide maintains its hardness and structural integrity at high temperatures and is suitable for use in harsh, high-temperature industrial processes.
How is tungsten carbide checked before shipping?
Every order is tested before bulk production. Physical properties, shape, and tolerance are checked. Inspection photographs are sent to the buyer for confirmation before delivery.
Have A Part In Mind
Send the drawing and the service conditions and you will get a grade recommendation with the quotation.