Tungsten Carbide Applications

Carbide cutting surfaces are often used for machining through materials such as carbon or stainless steel, as well as in situations where other tools would wear away, such as high-quantity production runs. Carbide generally produces a better finish on the part, and allows faster machining. Carbide tools can also withstand higher temperatures than standard high speed steel tools. The material is usually called cemented carbide, hardmetal or tungsten-carbide cobalt: it is a metal matrix composite where tungsten carbide particles are the aggregate and metallic cobalt serves as the matrix.