Frequently asked questions

• What is the difference between cemented carbide and ceramics?

  The hardness of ceramics approaches that of diamond, the hardest mineral on earth. If the hardness of diamond is 10, ceramics exhibit a hardness of 9 or higher, which is harder than tungsten and other hard metals. The difference in composition also results in a heavier weight in the case of cemented carbides. However, cemented carbides can be made with various characteristics depending on tungsten carbide (WC) particle size, the amount of bonding material, and additives, so it is possible to select the most suitable grade for the application from a wide range of available grades.

• What is the difference between cemented carbide and cermet?

  Both cemented carbide and cermet are composite materials made by mixing and sintering carbide or nitride powders with a metallic binder.
  However, whereas cemented carbides are made of tungsten carbide (WC), the main component, bonded mainly with cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni),
  Cermet is made by bonding titanium compounds such as titanium carbide (TiC) and titanium carbide nitride (TiCN) with nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co).
  In other words, the difference between cemented carbide and cermet is the main component.

• What is the difference between cemented carbide and HSS?

  Cemented carbide is an alloy with high hardness, heat resistance and strength. HSS, on the other hand, generally has relatively lower strength and heat resistance, but has higher impact resistance.
  As their raw materials and manufacturing methods differ, there is a significant difference in costs between the two materials.
  Selecting the suitable material is recommended though considering the application and the timing of replacement after installation.
  

• What are the weaknesses of cemented carbides?

  Compared to general iron alloys, cemented carbide has lower toughness, which may cause chipping or peeling of the cutting edge.
  In addition, as the relative density is about twice that of iron, the heavier weight of cemented carbide may be a disadvantage.

• What causes cemented carbide to crack?

  Compared to metal materials, cemented carbide materials have a different thermal expansion coefficient. For this reason, cracks may occur in shrink/cooling-fitted products when the operating temperature is significantly higher (lower) than the designed value. When using cemented carbides with high hardness, problems such as cracking may occur by high impact, so the required fracture toughness value should also be carefully considered.

• What kind of cemented carbide is used as cutting tools?

  The material of cemented carbide to be selected depends on the workpiece and its thickness, etc. In general, for use as a cutting tool, ultrafine grain cemented carbide, which consists of ultrafine tungsten carbide (WC) particles, is often selected to increase cutting ability and to prevent chipping.

• What are the advantages of using cemented carbide tools?

  As cemented carbide is characterized by its resistance to loss of hardness at high temperatures, its performance is not easily deteriorated even when used for machining at high speed that cause tools to have high temperatures.

• What is the hardness of cemented carbides?

  Generally, hardness can range from HRA88 to HRA92.
  Higher hardness increases wearing resistance, but decreases impact resistance making it more prone to chipping.

• What is the main component of cemented carbide?

  The main component is tungsten carbide (WC), which becomes cemented carbide after bonding with metallic binders such as cobalt and nickel.
  Additives such as chromium (Cr) are added to these alloys to create cemented carbides with various characteristics.