the Raw Materials of Tungsten Carbide

Tungsten carbide is a synthetic compound created by placing a tungsten-based substance with a carbon-based organic compound such as methane or methanol. When done under the proper conditions, the result of this chemical reaction is a fine black powder, known as tungsten carbide, a remarkable end-product that has many industrial and aesthetic uses.

Tungsten
Expressed by the symbol "W," tungsten is a metallic element that is not found free in nature, but occurs in mineral ores such as wolframite or scheelite. When isolated to its pure form, tungsten has many desirable properties, such as a high tensile strength, low non-toxicity and a high melting point. As a result, tungsten is used as an metal alloy in manufacturing steel and other metal alloys. It is also a major ingredient in tungsten carbide.

Carbon
Carbon is the other raw material of tungsten carbide. This common element is a major part of the biological world, where it forms many substances commonly found in both plants and animals. In the creation of tungsten carbide, methane or methanol often provides the source of carbon. In general, carbon is one of the most common elements, and in its metallic forms can also be the most versatile. This property reveals itself quite clearly when comparing two carbon minerals: graphite and diamonds.

Chemical Formulas
Tungsten carbide has two chemical formulas, WC and W2C. In the first example, tungsten and carbon combine in equal proportions to form tungsten carbide, sometimes referred to as just carbide. With the other formula, W2C, the ratio of tungsten to carbon is 2 to 1. With both these products, the final result is determined by the initial choice of compounds used to begin the chemical reaction.

Uses
Although the tungsten carbon compound usually forms as a black powder, the material can be formed into one of the hardest man-made substance. This unique quality makes certain that tungsten carbide finds use in numerous industrial applications. As a result, the material is fused under extreme heat to form the cutting edge in many industrial tools and machines. Tungsten carbide knife blades can also be used to make popular kitchen utensils. Even jewelers have found that the black powder converts into some very attractive jewelry items. Watches, bracelets and rings are some of the jewelry pieces that utilize carbide.

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