Why Cemented Carbide Facts

Cemented carbide measures a nine on Moh's hardness scale, meaning it is about as hard as corundum, but not as hard as diamond. In order to polish or finish an item made of cemented carbide, a diamond must be used because any other metal or mineral would crack and break. Only a diamond is hard enough to be able to scratch cemented carbide. Its density also surpasses the density of titanium.

Cemented carbide is created when tungsten and carbon are combined in equal amounts. In order to create tungsten carbide, the process has to be carried out at temperatures between 1,400 and 2,000 degrees centigrade. The resulting product, cemented carbide, has an extremely high melting point of about 5,200 degrees Fahrenheit and a low electrical resistance, meaning it readily conducts electricity.

Cemented carbide is a compound made of the elements tungsten and carbon. Its density makes it highly valuable in the military, and the mining and manufacturing industries. Since its creation, cemented carbide has even been used to make wedding bands.
Cemented carbide has a variety of uses due to its unique physical properties. Its molecular formula is WC, and it is very similar in nature to titanium carbide. Since it does contain two different elements, it is classified as a chemical compound. Sometimes, cemented carbide is just referred to as carbide in everyday speech.

Melting Point
Cemented carbide has an extremely high melting point at 5,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hardness
Cemented Carbide falls between 8.5 to 9.0 on Moh's hardness scale, making it almost as hard as diamond.
Military Uses
The military makes armor piercing ammunition out of tungsten carbide.
Sports Uses
Ski poles sometimes use tungsten carbide to reduce the impact on the skier's legs.
Everyday Uses
Many jewelers use tungsten carbide to create wedding bands for men.

Cemented Carbide vs. Titanium
Cemented carbide and titanium are both very hard materials that have numerous practical applications. There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these materials.
Hardness
Both materials are much harder than other metals, such as gold and silver, cemented carbide is harder than titanium and is much harder to engrave.
Ductile
Titanium is more ductile than cemented carbide. Titanium will bend under high pressure while cemented carbide will shatter under high pressure.
Weight
Cemented carbide is much heavier than titanium. Cemented carbide weighs over 90 percent more than stainless steel while titanium is 43 percent lighter than stainless steel.
Price
Titanium is typically cheaper than cemented carbide because cemented carbide has higher production costs. Cemented carbide is formed in conditions where temperatures exceed 6,000 degrees F.
Applications
Titanium is often used in the aircraft and aircraft missile production industries because it is a very strong but light material. Cemented carbide is used in many applications, including grinding, machining and polishing.