Chemical Properties
black hexagonal, a=0.29982 nm, c=0.4722nm; can be prepared by heating tungsten and carbon in the presence of hydrogen at high temperatures; hardness approaches that of diamond; brittle; used in hard metals, and as a 99.5% pure sputtering target to produce wear-resistant films and semiconductor films [KIR83] [CIC73] [CER91] [CRC10]
Physical properties
Black. Resistant to oxidation
in air up to 700°C. Corrosion
resistant to Mo.
Uses
Tungsten carbide is used in industrial machinery, cutting tools, abrasives, armor-piercing rounds and jewelry. It is preferred even over stainless steel because of their incredible hardness and resistance to wear and tear. It is utilized for the manufacture of mill products including grinding and milling. It also includes tipping trekking, ski poles as well as cleats. It is mainly used in the form of cemented tungsten carbide.
Uses
Tungsten Carbide/Carbon (WC/C) is a black-gray colored coating of hard tungsten carbide particles in a soft amorphous carbon matrix. It is used for precision components with abrasive and adhesive wear, seizure problems (poor lubrication) and for dry machining applications.
Definition
Either of two carbides
(W
2C and WC) produced by heating powdered
tungsten with carbon. The carbides
are extremely hard and are used in industry
to make cutting tools or as an abrasive.
WC has a very high melting point
(2770°C) and will conduct electricity. W
2C
also has a very high melting point
(2780°C) but is a less efficient conductor of
electricity. It is very resistant to chemical attack and behaves in a manner very similar
to that of tungsten. It is strongly attacked
by chlorine to give tungsten
hexachloride, WCl
6.