Tungsten carbide

Chemical properties

Gray powder. Mohs hardness of 9+ in solid form. Insoluble in water but readily attacked by a nitric acid– hydrofluoric acidmixture. Stable to 400C with chlorine, burns in fluorine at room temperature, oxidizes on heating in air.

Physical properties

Gray powder, dissolved by HF=HNO₃ mixture. Cutting tools, wear-resistant semiconductor film. Corroded by molten metals Mg, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, and Mo. Corrosion resistant to molten Sn and Ta.

The Uses of Tungsten carbide

Tungsten Carbide/Carbon (WC/C) is a black-gray colored coating of hard tungsten carbide particles in a soft amorphous carbon matrix. It is used for precision components with abrasive and adhesive wear, seizure problems (poor lubrication) and for dry machining applications.

The Uses of Tungsten carbide

Tungsten carbide is extremely hard and are excellent cutting materials. It is used extensivly in the tool and die industry for drilling and cutting tools, sand blasting nozzels, armor-piercing bullets, and studs to increase traction of tires.
Besides, it is used in dental burs, surgical instruments, wear-resistant coatings; in manufacture of cemented carbide; Substitute for noble metals in catalysis.

The Uses of Tungsten carbide

Tungsten carbide is extensively used as a cutting tool for machining and in armor-piercing ammunition. It is also used in farriery, the shoeing of horses as well as to improve traction on slippery surfaces like roads or ice. It finds application in nuclear reactors as an effective neutron reflector. It is also used for making surgical instruments meant for open surgery such as scissors, forceps, hemostats, blade-handles and in laparoscopic surgery instruments such as graspers, cutter, needle holder and cautery. Further, it also used to make the rotating ball in the tips of ballpoint pens, bridal jewelry, and gauge blocks, which is useful for producing precision lengths in dimensional metrology.

Definition

A ditungsten carbide, W2C, with similar physical properties is also known. WC is said to be the strongest of all structural materials.

Definition

A black powder,WC, made by heating powderedtungsten metal with lamp black at1600°C. It is extremely hard (9.5 onMohs’ scale) and is used in dies andcutting tools. A ditungsten carbide,W₂C, also exists.

Hazard

Toxic by inhalation.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Industrial uses

Tungsten carbide with a 3 to 20% matrix ofcobalt is the most common structural RHM. Thelow-cobalt grades are used for applicationsrequiring wear resistance; the high-cobalt gradesserve where impact resistance is required.

Safety Profile

Chronic inhalation causes lung damage in humans. Ignites at 600°C in nitrogen oxide atmospheres. Violent reaction with F2, ClF3, NOx, IF5, PbO2, NO2, N20. See also TUNGSTEN COMPOUNDS.