Different carbide compositions are optimized for specific industries and applications based on their hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and thermal stability. Here’s a breakdown of the most common carbide grades and their ideal uses
1. General-Purpose Tungsten Carbide (WC-Co)
• Composition: Tungsten carbide (WC) + Cobalt (Co) (6-12%)
• Industry: Metal cutting, mining, and general machining
• Properties:
✔ Balanced hardness & toughness
✔ Good shock resistance
✔ Suitable for turning, milling, and drilling
• Composition: High WC content (88-94%) + Low cobalt (4-6%)
• Industry: Aerospace, automotive, oil & gas
• Properties:
✔ Extreme hardness - Better abrasion resistance
✔ Used for cutting hard materials (titanium, hardened steel)
✔ Long tool life, but lower toughness
• Used for seals, bushings, nozzles, and dies.
• Composition: WC (80-85%) + High cobalt (10-20%)
• Industry: Mining, construction, impact-heavy applications or percussion drilling
• Properties:
✔ High toughness, better impact resistance(best for impact applications and shock loads)
✔ Ideal for rock drilling, hammer tools, oil exploration, and mining tools (Buttons, Inserts, and Wear Pads and bits...)
4. Corrosion-Resistant Carbide (WC-Ni or WC-Co-Cr)
• Composition: Tungsten carbide (WC) + Nickel (Ni) or Chromium (Cr)
• Industry: Chemical processing, food industry, marine applications
• Properties: Corrosion-Prone Environments
✔ Resistant to corrosion & oxidation
✔ Used in valve seats, pump components, and food-grade tools
✔ Lower hardness compared to WC-Co
• Composition: Titanium Carbide (TiC), Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN), or Mixed WC-TiC-Co
• Industry: Hot forming dies, high-speed machining, cutting tools and aerospace components
• Properties:
✔ Resistant to oxidation & heat (up to 1000 ℃)
✔ Used for cutting superalloys, stainless steel, and cast iron
✔ Lower toughness, but excels at high-speed cutting
• Industry: Precision finishing, medical tools, aerospace
• Properties:
✔ Extreme wear resistance, low friction
✔ Superior surface finish - Used for fine finishing tools &Precision work
✔ Not impact-resistant, best for light cutting
• Industry: Wood cutting, saw blades, routers
• Properties:
✔ Sharp cutting edges for wood & composites
✔ Moderate wear resistance but not ideal for high-impact loads
1. General-Purpose Tungsten Carbide (WC-Co)
• Composition: Tungsten carbide (WC) + Cobalt (Co) (6-12%)
• Industry: Metal cutting, mining, and general machining
• Properties:
✔ Balanced hardness & toughness
✔ Good shock resistance
✔ Suitable for turning, milling, and drilling
• Composition: High WC content (88-94%) + Low cobalt (4-6%)
• Industry: Aerospace, automotive, oil & gas
• Properties:
✔ Extreme hardness - Better abrasion resistance
✔ Used for cutting hard materials (titanium, hardened steel)
✔ Long tool life, but lower toughness
• Used for seals, bushings, nozzles, and dies.
• Composition: WC (80-85%) + High cobalt (10-20%)
• Industry: Mining, construction, impact-heavy applications or percussion drilling
• Properties:
✔ High toughness, better impact resistance(best for impact applications and shock loads)
✔ Ideal for rock drilling, hammer tools, oil exploration, and mining tools (Buttons, Inserts, and Wear Pads and bits...)
✔ Less wear resistance, but won't fracture easily
4. Corrosion-Resistant Carbide (WC-Ni or WC-Co-Cr)
• Composition: Tungsten carbide (WC) + Nickel (Ni) or Chromium (Cr)
• Industry: Chemical processing, food industry, marine applications
• Properties: Corrosion-Prone Environments
✔ Resistant to corrosion & oxidation
✔ Used in valve seats, pump components, and food-grade tools
✔ Lower hardness compared to WC-Co
• Composition: Titanium Carbide (TiC), Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN), or Mixed WC-TiC-Co
• Industry: Hot forming dies, high-speed machining, cutting tools and aerospace components
• Properties:
✔ Resistant to oxidation & heat (up to 1000 ℃)
✔ Used for cutting superalloys, stainless steel, and cast iron
✔ Lower toughness, but excels at high-speed cutting
6. Cermet (Ceramic + Metal Composite)
• Composition: Titanium-based ceramics (TiC, TiCN, TiN) + Nickel or Cobalt• Industry: Precision finishing, medical tools, aerospace
• Properties:
✔ Extreme wear resistance, low friction
✔ Superior surface finish - Used for fine finishing tools &Precision work
✔ Not impact-resistant, best for light cutting
7. Cemented Carbide for Woodworking
• Composition: WC-Co or WC-TiC blends• Industry: Wood cutting, saw blades, routers
• Properties:
✔ Sharp cutting edges for wood & composites
✔ Moderate wear resistance but not ideal for high-impact loads