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What is Tungsten Carbide?

2022-12-23

Tungsten carbide or tungsten carbide (WC), also known as "Widia", from the German "wie diamant" (as in diamond), is one of the hardest carbon-based compounds. Among its applications we can find it used in the manufacture of cutting tools, jewelry, abrasives, weapons, surgical instruments or in special coatings for various demanding Tungsten Carbide Components.

Tungsten Carbide Components

What is Tungsten Carbide
As one of the hardest materials, tungsten carbide has a hardness between 8.5 and 9.5 on the Mohs scale, surpassed only by very few materials such as diamond. This material is born from the bond between carbon and tungsten, doped with a small amount of cobalt, which, through sintering, forms one of the so-called CERMET (CERamic METal), considered one of the most durable and durable compounds in the industry.

Characteristics and properties of tungsten carbide
Tungsten carbide is a very versatile material that can be alloyed to obtain various properties. Its extraordinary hardness can be used to shape and cut almost any other material, and its high temperature resistance allows it to work at high speeds, maximizing its value as a cutting tool.

For this reason it is increasingly used for work, in addition to the typical materials of very high hardness, among the various steel alloys, from the most conventional, due to their properties, to the most corrosion-resistant materials. Such as manganese steel Tungsten Carbide Tooling or tool steel Tungsten Carbide Dies And Molds.

Another application for the use of tungsten carbide due to its reduced ductility and high mechanical resistance is in the coating of parts that are subject to continuous friction and must have high wear resistance, such as bearings or rotating elements, where it is applied using thermal projection Coating form for systems such as HVOF.

Tungsten Carbide Components

The most relevant properties of tungsten carbide:
>Extreme hardness.
>Low ductility.
> High mechanical resistance.
>Abrasion resistance.
>Heat resistance, retaining its hardness at temperatures above 500°C.
> Corrosion resistance.

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