The Extraordinary Properties of Tungsten Carbide
Strength
- Tungsten carbide has very high strength for a material so hard and rigid.
Compressive strength is higher than virtually all melted and cast or forged
metals and alloys.
Rigidity - Tungsten carbide compositions range from two to three times
as rigid as steel and four to six times as rigid as cast iron and brass. Young's
Modulus is up to 94,800,000 psi.
Heat Resistance - High resistance to deformation and deflection is very
valuable in those many applications where a combination of minimum deflection
and good ultimate strength merits first consideration. These include spindles
for precision grinding and rolls for strip or sheet metal.
Impact Resistant - For such a hard material with very high rigidity,
the impact resistance is high. It is in the range of hardened tool steels of
lower hardness and compressive strength.
Heat and oxidation resistance - Tungsten-base carbides perform well up
to about 1000°F in oxidizing atmospheres and to 1500°F in non-oxidizing
atmospheres
Low temperature resistance (cryogenic properties) - Tungsten carbide
retains toughness and impact strength in the cryogenic temperature ranges. (-453°F.)
Thermal Conductivity - Tungsten carbide is in the range of twice that
of tool steel and carbon steel.
Electrical Conductivity - Tungsten carbide is in the same range as tool
steel and carbon steel.
Specified Heat - Tungsten carbide ranges from about 50% to 70% as high
as carbon steel.
Weight - The specific gravity of tungsten carbide is from 1-1/2 to 2
times that of carbon steel.
Hot Hardness - When temperature increase to 1400°F, tungsten carbide
retains much of its room temperature hardness. At 1400°F, some grades equal
the hardness of steels at room temperature.
Tolerances - Many surfaces of even complete parts can be used the way
they come from the furnace, "as sintered", such as mining or drilling
compacts. In those parts requiring precision ground accuracy, such as stamping
dies, close-tolerance preforms are provided for grinding or EDM.
Methods of Fastening - Tungsten carbide can be fastened to other materials
by any of three methods; brazing, epoxy cementing, or mechanical means. Tungsten
carbide's low thermal expansion rate must be carefully considered when preforms
are provided for grinding or EDM.
Coefficient of Friction - Tungsten carbide compositions exhibit low dry
coefficient of friction values as compared to steels.-
Galling
- Tungsten carbide compositions have exceptional resistance to galling and
welding at the surface.
Corrosion-Wear Resistance - Specific grades are available with corrosion
resistance approaching that of noble metals. Conventional grades have sufficient
resistance to corrosion-wear conditions for many applications.
Wear-Resistance - Tungsten carbide wears up to 100 times longer than
steel in conditions including abrasion, erosion and galling. Wear resistance
of tungsten carbide is better than that of wear-resistance tool steels.
Surface Finishes - Finish of an as-sintered part will be about 50 microinches.
Surface, cylindrical, or internal grinding with diamond wheel will produce
18 microinches or better and can produce as low as 4 to 8 microinches. Diamond
lapping and honing can produce 2 microinches and with polishing as low as
1/2 microinch.
Dimensional Stability - Tungsten carbide undergoes no phase changes
during heating and cooling and retains its stability indefinitely. No heat
treating is required.
Properties Chart - Use this link to see the properties
chart