What is tungsten carbide?
Carbide is a composite material consisting mainly of tungsten carbide (WC) and a binder, usually cobalt (Co). Tungsten carbide is a ceramic material created by combining tungsten and carbon, resulting in a mixed crystal with very high hardness. The binder cobalt provides toughness and holds the hard grains together.
Production of this material involves mixing tungsten carbide powder with cobalt, followed by pressing and sintering at high temperatures. During sintering, the cobalt melts, binding the tungsten carbide particles into a solid compound. That process results in a material that is both hard and tough, ideal for applications requiring high wear resistance.
Tungsten carbide grades
There are different grades of carbide, which vary based on the ratio of tungsten carbide to cobalt, grain size, density, hardness and bending strength. GSE Carbide offers the following grades as standard stock, among others:
- GSE06: Contains 6% cobalt and can be classified within the K10-K20 grade. This grade is highly wear-resistant and less tough. GSE06 is suitable for machining non-ferrous materials such as aluminium and wood. In addition, the grade is ideal for diamond-coated tools, used when machining graphite.
- GSE10: This grade with 10% cobalt belongs to the K20-K30 class and offers a balance between hardness and toughness. A versatile grade suitable for machining various materials including titanium, cast iron and aluminium.
- GSE12: Contains 12% cobalt and belongs to the K40 class. Designed for machining stainless steel, titanium and hardened materials with a hardness of HRC50 to HRC65. The increased toughness makes it less prone to breakage, even in heavy-duty applications.
Choosing the right carbide grade depends on the specific application and the required properties such as hardness, toughness and wear resistance. At GSE Carbide, carbide grades with other compositions in specifications are available on request.
Benefits of carbide in industrial applications
Carbide is characterised by its exceptional hardness and durability, making it indispensable in many demanding applications. For example for the production of tools such as drills, milling cutters, forming and punching tools.
Its excellent quality and precision ensures consistently high production quality, which is ideal for demanding applications. Its wide range of applications extends from automotive and aerospace to medical and mechanical engineering, making it irreplaceable in a variety of industries.
The wide range of size options offers flexibility to meet specific diameter and shape requirements. In addition, carbide offers excellent resistance to wear and high temperatures, making it particularly suitable for the production of cutting tools. The main advantages are summarised here:
- Excellent hardness and wear resistance
- High precision and consistent production quality
- Wide range of applications in various industries
- Wide range of size options for specific requirements
- High resistance to high temperatures
- Ideal for the production of cutting tools
Tungsten carbide products at GSE Carbide
GSE Carbide specialises in supplying and machining high-quality carbide components, with a focus on customisation and precision. The range includes rods, preforms and an advanced CNC grinding service.
Carbide rods are available in various types, each with specific properties tailored to various applications. Rods in various sizes are in stock as standard and can also be provided with chamfer and/or Weldon flat. In addition, GSE Carbide also offers carbide rods with coolant holes.
In addition to rods, carbide preforms are also available on request. Some examples of preforms include: strips, discs, blades and rings. There preforms are delivered to size according to supplied drawings. There is also the option for delivery on call-off.
The CNC grinding service enables GSE Carbide to cylindrical grinding of rods. With this service, rods can be realised in certain shapes with precise tolerances. By using the grinding service, tool manufacturers can focus entirely on grinding the cutting edge.
This integrated approach, from material selection to precision machining, positions GSE Carbide as a reliable partner for various industries requiring high-quality carbide solutions.
Frequently asked questions about tungsten carbide
What is the difference between tungsten carbide and carbide?
Tungsten carbide is a chemical compound of tungsten and carbon (WC) and forms the hard component in carbide. Carbide is a composite material that combines tungsten carbide with a binder, usually cobalt, to create a material that is both hard and tough. In short, tungsten carbide is an essential component of carbide.
How do I recognise quality difference in tungsten carbide?
Quality differences in carbide result from variations in properties such as grain size, cobalt content, density, hardness and flexural strength. Finer grains, for example, result in higher hardness and better wear resistance. In addition, a higher cobalt percentage increases toughness while a lower percentage increases hardness.
These properties are not visible to the naked eye and can only be determined with specialised measuring equipment. These include techniques that analyse composition and microstructure or measure the hardness and accuracy of a product, among other things.
At GSE Carbide, we can provide a material certificate detailing these properties upon request. Thus, we offer maximum transparency about our material.
Can tungsten carbide be reused or ground?
Yes, it can be reused and ground. In carbide recycling, the material that has been recovered is reused in the production of new tools.
Grinding carbide is an essential process in the production of tools, for example.
Grinding creates the shape and geometry of the cutting edge in the tool. Moreover, tools can be re-grinded. This is a common operation to extend tool life and restore performance.
