Organ Problems
When tungsten carbide is swallowed, it can lead to loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The China Tungsten Industry Association states that "reports outside the [tungsten carbide] industry suggest that ingestion of significant amounts of cobalt has the potential for causing blood, heart and other organ problems."

Reducing Exposure
When working with tungsten carbide, you can reduce your exposure by wearing clothing that covers your skin, including gloves and safety glasses; wearing a respirator or working in a well-ventilated area; cleaning work areas using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or other system that removes small particles from surfaces and the air; and always washing skin that has been exposed to tungsten carbide thoroughly.

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Which metallic binder is used can have an effect on the final product. For instance, if a tungsten carbide ring is made with cobalt, then it may cause a rash on the finger of the person wearing it, or it may tarnish by coming into contact with the oils produced by a person's skin. Nickel on the other hand does neither of these things, and it creates a safer, more durable product. Unfortunately though, nickel is much more expensive. So like any product, the particular components required should be taken into account before manufacturing to be sure that the final result has all the necessary attributes.

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The most frequently utilized hard metal in manufacturing today, tungsten carbide, is used to make a wide variety of products, including wedding rings, golf clubs and machinery. Tungsten carbide is favored by manufacturers because it is strong, durable and heat tolerant. It is made primarily of tungsten and cobalt and small amounts of other metals such as nickel. Workers exposed to airborne tungsten particles do not appear to have any adverse health effects, but exposure to airborne cobalt particles can have a serious impact on health.
Eye and Skin Irritation
When the eyes and skin are exposed to tungsten carbide, the result is irritation. In addition, repeated exposure can result in allergies to tungsten carbide, as well as to nickel and cobalt.

Respiratory Ailments
Inhalation of tungsten carbide dust can lead to nose, throat and lung irritation. Repeated exposure to tungsten carbide can lead to a range of serious respiratory ailments including asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and hard-metal lung disease.

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The process for making tungsten carbide is simple. Equal parts powdered tungsten and carbon are mixed together along with a metallic binder. The most common binders currently in use are cobalt and nickel. The mixture is compacted into a shape, and it's then heated to above the melting point of the binder. The tungsten carbide, which is powdered, is then surrounded by the molten binder. As the slurry dries, the binder holds the tungsten carbide in a matrix that's extremely hard and durable. Technically tungsten carbide that uses a bonding agent is a composite metal, but it's rarely an issue.

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