bedrijfsnieuws over The Difference Between Tungsten Carbide and Cemented Carbide

If you work in the tungsten carbide or hard materials industry, you’ve probably heard “tungsten carbide" and “cemented carbide" used interchangeably—and wondered if they’re the same thing. Are they two names for the same material, or do they refer to distinct products? The key distinction is simple: Tungsten carbide (WC) is a single, hard chemical compound, while cemented carbide is a composite material that often uses tungsten carbide as its main hard component (along with a metal binder like cobalt or nickel). In short, tungsten carbide is a “building block," and cemented carbide is the “finished product" made from that block. This confusion is common, but understanding their differences is critical for selecting the right material, troubleshooting parts, or communicating with suppliers. In this article, we’ll break down their definitions, compositions, properties, applications, and common myths—all with practical industrial context.

To understand the difference, start with their core identities: what each material is made of, and how it’s formed.

Tungsten carbide is a single chemical compound formed by combining tungsten (W) and carbon (C) at extremely high temperatures (around 1,400–1,600°C). It has a simple, crystalline structure and is known for two key traits:

• Extreme hardness: 8.5–9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale (only diamond and cubic boron nitride are harder).
• Brittleness: Pure tungsten carbide (without any additives) is very hard but fragile—it will crack or shatter under impact (like a piece of ceramic).

In its pure form, tungsten carbide is rarely used as a standalone industrial part. Instead, it’s produced as a fine powder (typically 0.5–10 micrometers in size) to serve as the “hard phase" in cemented carbide.

Cemented carbide is a composite material—meaning it’s made by mixing two or more distinct components to create new properties. Its structure has two parts:

• Hard phase (90–95%): The “skeleton" of the material, usually tungsten carbide powder (WC). In some cases, other hard compounds (like titanium carbide, TiC, or tantalum carbide, TaC) are added to boost heat resistance or corrosion resistance.
• Binder phase (5–10%): A soft, ductile metal (most commonly cobalt, Co; sometimes nickel, Ni) that “glues" the hard phase particles together. The binder solves tungsten carbide’s brittleness problem by adding toughness.

Cemented carbide is made via powder metallurgy: The hard phase and binder are mixed, pressed into a shape (called a “green compact"), and sintered (heated to 1,300–1,600°C) to form a dense, solid part. This process turns brittle tungsten carbide powder into a material that’s both hard (from WC) and tough (from the binder).

The biggest differences lie in their composition, structure, and performance—traits that directly impact how they’re used in industry. Below is a side-by-side comparison of the most critical factors:

Their differences in performance mean tungsten carbide and cemented carbide serve entirely different roles in industry.

Since pure tungsten carbide is brittle and only available as a powder, its uses are limited to being a “raw material" or specialized scenarios:

• Cemented carbide production: 90% of tungsten carbide powder is used to make cemented carbide parts (the hard phase).
• High-temperature coatings: Sometimes applied as a thin, hard coating on metals (via thermal spraying) to boost wear resistance.
• Specialized ceramics: In rare cases, pure tungsten carbide is pressed and sintered into ultra-hard (but fragile) parts for non-impact uses (e.g., precision nozzles for non-abrasive fluids).

Cemented carbide’s balance of hardness and toughness makes it one of the most versatile hard materials—used across industries for parts that need to resist wear, cutting, or impact:

• Cutting tools: Drill bits, lathe inserts, and saw blades for machining metal, wood, or concrete (lasts 10–20x longer than steel tools).
• Wear parts: Mining liners (resist ore grinding), conveyor belt scrapers, and pump seals (handle abrasive fluids without wearing out).
• Precision components: Watch cases (scratch-resistant), mold inserts (for stamping hard plastics), and medical tools (e.g., dental drills).
• Heavy industry: Crusher teeth, hydraulic fracturing nozzles, and metal-forming dies (endure high pressure and friction).

Misusing these terms is common—even in the industry. Here are the most frequent myths, and why they’re wrong:

Fact: No. Tungsten carbide is a single compound (a “ingredient"), while cemented carbide is a composite (a “dish" made with that ingredient). Calling cemented carbide “tungsten carbide" is like calling a cake “flour"—flour is key, but the cake needs eggs, sugar, and baking to be useful.

Fact: Most do (over 90%), but not all. Some specialized cemented carbides use other hard phases (e.g., titanium carbide, TiC, for high-heat machining) or a mix of hard phases. For example, “WC-TiC-Co" cemented carbide uses both tungsten carbide and titanium carbide to reduce metal buildup on cutting tools.

Fact: The opposite is true. Pure tungsten carbide is too brittle to handle real-world stress—drop a pure WC part, and it will shatter. Cemented carbide’s binder fixes this, making it usable for tools, wear parts, and structural components.

Fact: Slightly, but not in a way that matters. Pure WC has a Mohs hardness of 8.5–9, while WC-Co cemented carbide has a hardness of 8.0–8.8 (depending on binder content). This small difference is negligible for most industrial uses, and cemented carbide’s added toughness more than makes up for it.

For industrial professionals, the choice between tungsten carbide (as a powder) and cemented carbide (as a finished part) is almost always clear—because they serve different stages of production:

The confusion between tungsten carbide and cemented carbide comes from overlapping language—but the difference is simple: Tungsten carbide is the hard, brittle “ingredient," and cemented carbide is the tough, usable “product" made from that ingredient.

For you, as an industrial professional, this clarity matters. It helps you communicate accurately with suppliers (e.g., “I need WC-Co cemented carbide inserts, not pure WC powder"), troubleshoot part failures (e.g., a shattered part might be pure WC, not cemented carbide), and select the right material for your application.

If you’re still unsure about which material fits your needs—whether you’re sourcing raw materials, designing a new tool, or replacing a worn part—feel free to reach out. We can help you navigate the options and ensure you get the right material for the job.