How Tungsten Carbide is Made

What Is Tungsten Carbide?

Tungsten is a heavy, gray metal with bluish overtones. When mixed with black carbon, tungsten carbide is created.

General Process

The compound is made by heating pulverized tungsten with black carbon, when hydrogen is present. Temperatures range from 2,550 to 2,900 degrees F or 1,400 to 1,600 degrees C. A common method for making the compound was developed in the 1920s in Germany and involves mixing powered tungsten carbide with cobalt. This mixture is then made into the required shape and heated to 2,550 to 2,900 degrees F or 1,400 to 1,600 degrees C. This heat melts the tungsten carbide partially, working as a cement. These tungsten carbide-cobalt creations are known by the names Carboloy and hardmetal.

Another Process

The tungsten and carbon is made into a powder using a pulverizer. The materials are then placed into a crucible and heated using an arc of electricity. The two materials then combine creating the tungsten carbide.

Uses of Tungsten Carbide

A gray, inorganic material, tungsten carbide functions as a hardener in armor-piercing projectiles, the sharp edges of drills and saws, and cast iron. Besides industrial uses, it is also used to create jewelry due to its hardness and deduced risk of allergic reactions among those with sensitive skin, among other desirable properties.

Resources

• Tungsten Carbide-General Process
• Tungsten Carbide-Specific Process
• Tungsten Carbide