Tungsten Carbide (Cemented)
Tungsten Carbide (Cemented WC-Co) – Extreme Hardness Composite for Cutting Tools and Wear Parts
Cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co) is a composite material combining tungsten carbide particles (1500–2400 HV hardness) bound in a cobalt metal matrix. It delivers unmatched hardness, stiffness, and wear resistance for cutting tools, dies, and wear components that would rapidly fail in any other material. Parts can only be shaped by diamond grinding or EDM — conventional machining is not possible.
Key Properties
- Hardness: 1500–2400 HV (Vickers) — near-diamond hardness
- Compressive Strength: 1400 MPa
- Density: 14.9 g/cm³
- Elastic Modulus: ~600 GPa — 3× stiffer than steel
- Fabrication: Diamond grinding or EDM only — not conventionally machinable
- Standards: ISO 9001 / ASTM B777
Common Applications
CNC cutting inserts, solid carbide end mills and drills, wire drawing dies, stamping and forming dies, wear-resistant spray nozzles, mining drill bits, and precision gauging components requiring extreme wear resistance.
Material properties
| Material name | Tungsten Carbide (Cemented) |
|---|---|
| Type | Other Metals |
| Standard code | ISO 9001 / ASTM B777 |
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 1400 |
| Yield strength (MPa) | — |
| Fatigue strength (MPa) | — |
| Elongation (%) | 1 |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 1400 |
| Density (g/cm³) | 14.9 |
| Electrical resistivity (µΩ·in) | 21 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) | 84 |
| Melting range (°C) | 2600–2870 |
| Weldability | Not Recommended |
| Formability | Poor |
| Shear modulus | 210 |
| Industry code | carbide |