• The Properties of Cubic Boron Nitride
• The Properties of Diamond Supermaterials
• The Properties of Tungsten Carbide
• Synthesis of Diamond using HPHT
• Synthesis of Diamond using CVD
• History of CVD Diamond

The Properties of Tungsten Carbide

The metal tungsten, whose name is derived from Swedish – tung(heavy) and sten (stone) is mainly used in the form of cemented tungsten carbides. Cemented carbides or hardmetals as they are often dubbed are a class of materials made by ‘cementing’ grains of tungsten carbide in a binder matrix of the metal cobalt by a process called liquid phase sintering.

Today tungsten carbide grains sizes vary from 0.5 microns to more than 5 micron with a cobalt content that can go up to around 30% by weight. In addition, adding other carbides can also vary the final properties.

The result is a class of materials that are characterised by

• High strength
• Toughness
• High hardness

By varying the grain size of the tungsten carbide and the cobalt content in the matrix, and adding other materials, engineers have access to a class of materials whose properties can be tailored to a variety of engineering applications. This includes high tech tools, wear parts and tools for the construction mining and oil and gas sector.