How to produce tungsten carbide WC powder?

 Overview of Tungsten Carbide WC Powder

Tungsten carbide is a compound composed of tungsten and carbon, with a molecular formula of WC and a molecular weight of 195.85. The most basic form of tungsten carbide is a fine gray powder, but it can be pressed into shape through a process called sintering, used in industrial machinery, cutting tools, abrasives, armor-piercing bullets, and jewelry.

The stiffness of tungsten carbide is about twice that of steel, and Young's modulus is about 530-700 GPa (77,000 to 102,000 KSI), which is twice the density of steel, almost between lead and gold. Its hardness is comparable to that of corundum (α-Al2O3), and only cubic boron nitride and diamond powder, grinding wheels, and compounds with high hardness abrasives can be used for polishing and finishing.

Tungsten carbide is a black hexagonal crystal with a metallic luster and hardness similar to diamonds. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat. Tungsten carbide is insoluble in water, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, but easily soluble in a mixed acid of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid. Pure tungsten carbide is fragile, if a small amount of titanium, cobalt, and other metals are added, its brittleness can be reduced. Tungsten carbide used as steel cutting tools is usually added with titanium carbide, tantalum carbide or their mixture to improve the anti-knock ability. Tungsten carbide is chemically stable. Tungsten carbide powder is used as a material for cemented carbide production.

Performance of tungsten carbide WC powder

Black hexagonal crystal; melting point 2870°C±50°C; boiling point 6000°C; soluble in a mixed acid of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid, but also soluble in aqua regia; insoluble in cold water; relative density 15.63; strong acid resistance; High hardness, High modulus of elasticity; used in the production of various alloys.

How to produce tungsten carbide WC powder?

Using metal tungsten and carbon as raw materials, tungsten powder with an average particle size of 3 to 5 μm and the same amount of carbon black is dry mixed with a ball mill, thoroughly mixed, and pressed into a shape, then placed in a graphite plate, and then placed in a graphite resistance furnace Alternatively, it can be heated to 1400~1700°C in an induction furnace, preferably 1550~1650°C. In the hydrogen stream, W2C is initially generated and continues to react at high temperatures to generate WC. Or first, thermally decompose tungsten hexacarbonyl in a CO atmosphere at 650-1000°C to obtain tungsten powder, and then react with carbon monoxide at 1150°C to obtain WC. Temperatures higher than this temperature will produce W2C.

Chemical reaction formula:

2W + C = W2C

W + C = WC will

Tungsten trioxide WO3 is hydrogenated and reduced to obtain tungsten powder (average particle size 3~5μm). Then, a mixture of tungsten powder and carbon black in an equimolar ratio (dry-mixed with a ball mill for about 10 hours) is pressed into a shape under a pressure of about 1t/cm 2. Put the pressurized material into a graphite pan or crucible and heat it to 1400 ~ 1700°C (preferably 1550 ~ 1650) in a hydrogen stream (using pure hydrogen with a dew point of -35°C), using a graphite resistance furnace or an induction furnace ℃), carburizing will produce WC. The reaction starts around the tungsten particles. This is because W2C is generated at the beginning of the reaction, and because the reaction is incomplete (mainly due to the low reaction temperature), in addition to WC, unreacted W and intermediate W2C remain. Therefore, it must be heated to the above-mentioned high temperature. The maximum temperature should be determined according to the particle size of the original tungsten. For coarse particles with an average particle diameter of about 150 μm, the reaction proceeds at a high temperature of 1550 to 1650°C.

Chemical reaction formula:

WO3 + 3H2→W + 3H2O

2WO3 + 3C→2W + 3CO2

2W + C = W2C

W + C = WC

Application of tungsten carbide WC powder

Tungsten carbide is widely used as high-speed cutting tools, furnace structure materials, jet engine parts, cermet materials, resistance heating elements, etc. for manufacturing cutting tools, wear-resistant parts, and melting crucibles for metals such as copper, cobalt, and bismuth, And wear-resistant semiconductor film.

Tungsten carbide is used as superhard tool material and wear-resistant material.

Tungsten carbide can form a solid solution with many carbides. WC-TiC-Co carbide tools have been widely used.

Tungsten carbide can also be used as a modified additive for NBC-C and TaC-C ternary carbides, which can reduce the sintering temperature and maintain excellent performance. It can be used as an aerospace material.

Tungsten carbide (WC) powder can also be synthesized by using tungstic anhydride (WO 3) and graphite in a reducing atmosphere at a high temperature of 1400 ~ 1600°C. Dense ceramic products can be obtained by hot pressing sintering or hot isostatic pressing sintering.

Tungsten carbide (WC) powder can also be used to produce high-performance nanocrystalline or ultra-fine keratin alloys, hard-surface wear-resistant spraying and petrochemical cracking catalysts; chipless molding tools; cutting tools; mining fees; nanocomposites (used to enhance hardness, Strength and wear resistance); corrosion-resistant coatings; wear-resistant coatings; corrosion-resistant coatings; wear-resistant parts.

The price of tungsten carbide WC powder

The price of tungsten carbide WC powder will vary randomly with the production cost, transportation cost, international situation, exchange rate, and market supply and demand of tungsten carbide WC powder. Tanki New Materials Co. Ltd aims to help all industries and chemical wholesalers find high-quality, low-cost nanomaterials and chemicals by providing a full set of customized services. If you are looking for tungsten carbide WC powder, please feel free to send it to get the latest price of tungsten carbide WC powder.

Suppliers of tungsten carbide WC powder

As a global supplier of tungsten carbide WC powder, Tanki New Materials Co., Ltd. has rich experience in the performance, application, and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced technology and engineering materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (including oxides, carbides, nitrides, single metals, etc.), high-purity targets, functional ceramics, and structural devices, and provides OEM services.

Technical parameters of Tungsten carbide WC powder :
WC	Molecular Weight	Total Carbon	Free Carbon	O	As	Bi	Ca	Cd
99.95	195.86	6.13-6.18	0.05	0.05	0.001	0.0003	0.0015	0.0005
Cr	Cu	Fe	K	Mn	Na	Mo	P	Pb
0.005	0.0003	0.015	0.002	0.001	0.002	0.003	0.001	0.0003
Sb	Si	Sn	Ti	V	Ni	Co	S	Al
0.0005	0.0015	0.0003	0.001	0.001	0.005	0.01	0.001	0.001

Tungsten Carbide Properties
Other Names	tungsten(IV) carbide, WC powder
CAS No.	12070-12-1
Compound Formula	WC
Molecular Weight	195.86
Appearance	Gray Black Powder
Melting Point	2870℃
Boiling Point	6000℃
Density	15 g/cm3
Solubility in H2O	N/A
Electrical Resistivity	1 10x Ω-m
Poisson's Ratio	0.24
Specific Heat	280 J/kg-K
Tensile Strength	350 MPa
Thermal Conductivity	85 W/m-K
Thermal Expansion	5.4 µm/m-K
Young's Modulus	630 GPA
Exact Mass	N/A
Tungsten Carbide Health & Safety Information
Signal Word	N/A
Hazard Statements	N/A
Hazard Codes	N/A
Risk Codes	N/A
Safety Statements	N/A
Transport Information	N/A