Making the Grades

Tungsten carbide (WC), also referred to as cemented carbide, is a composite material manufactured by a process called powder metallurgy. Tungsten carbide powder, generally ranging in proportion between 70%-97% of the total weight, is mixed with a binder metal, usually cobalt or nickel, compacted in a die and then sintered in a furnace.

The term “cemented” refers to the tungsten carbide particles being captured in the metallic binder material and “cemented” together, forming a metallurgical bond between the tungsten carbide particles and the binder (WC – Co), in the sintering process. The cemented carbide industry commonly refers to this
material as simply “carbide”, although the terms tungsten carbide and cemented carbide are used interchangeably.

Drew Elhassid
Chief Technology Officer

Tungsten Carbides Grades Brochure

Grade Specifications Chart
Designer’s Guide to Tungsten Carbide
Sinter-HIP Advantages