subject: An Overview Of Tungsten Carbide And Its Uses [print this page] An overview: An overview:
Tungsten carbide, also referred to as carbide, is a widely-used metal in the industrial sector. Each metal demonstrates certain unique qualities, and carbide is no exception. This metal is known for its extreme harness and ability to withstand wear and tear over long periods of time. Hence, it is used in several industrial components such as wear parts, drill bit inserts, cutting and slicing tools, industrial saws and knives, and even weapons.
This metal has a high tensile strength and excellent resistance to scratching and chipping. In fact, this metal can be polished or engraved with only a few other metals available on our planet. This is an indication of the hardness of this metal. Various processes such as sintering and performing are required in order to achieve the desired hardness and texture of this metal.
Application areas:
There are a myriad of applications that are seen with this metal. For instance, it is used in the manufacture of various components, and it is also used as a preferred coating material for components that are subjected to heavy wear and tear. This metal is available in various grain sizes.
It is widely used in drills and cutters that are used in mining or stone cutting applications. Tungsten carbide is also seen in the miniature balls that are used in ball point pens. In addition, it is also widely used for manufacturing dies for die-cutting operations as it can easily cut through several different materials such as metal, plastics, and even wood.
Another increasingly popular use of this metal is in the manufacture of jewelry. Wedding rings are made using this metal because it retains its shine for several years, and doesnt get scratched or damaged easily. All of these factors have led to an increased global demand for this particular material. A number of cutting tools used in the industrial and medical sector are also coated or tipped with tungsten carbide. Since this metal can withstand high pressure and high temperatures, it is also used in the manufacture of valve trim components. A valve trim comprises various internal elements and instruments of a valve that play a direct role in flow control.
Procuring carbide from the right source:
In order to honor this growing demand, there are several manufacturers that work relentlessly. These firms are known for experimenting with different grades of carbide so as to discover several new applications. There are several new grades that are even more resistant to abrasion and wear. This has opened up several new opportunities in the industrial, medical, aerospace, military, sports and other sectors.
Tungsten carbide is the hardest pure metal, and it is also resistant to high temperatures and pressure. In addition, it also demonstrates other interesting attributes such as it doesnt need any extra protection against oxidation.
