Theoretically, tungsten carbide is a kind of super-hard material that consists of refractory metal carbides and binder phase metal and manufactured by PM (Powder Metallurgy). And at the time of cemented carbide industry has just started, most of which are made of tungsten carbide WC and cobalt Co composition, referred to as tungsten carbide cobalt. Since WC-Co has simple structure, high hardness and excellent wear and corrosion resistance, it can be widely used in cutting, drilling, molding and other industries. Besides, tungsten carbide also includes WC-TiC-Co carbides, WC-TiC / TaC / NbC-Co carbides, steel bonded carbides and so on. Common tungsten carbide grades are YG3, YG6, YG8, YG10, YG12, YG15, YG20, YT15, etc, each grade due to the different ratio of WC and Co, with different performance advantages, some suitable for semi-finishing of non-ferrous metals and alloys, some iron alloy suitable for high-speed milling, some suitable for steel forgings, stampings and castings the surface finish.

Although tungsten carbide plays an important role in cutting tools, drilling tools and molding materials because of the excellent wear resistance and toughness, compared with higher hardness of diamond products, it has begun to face the danger of being substituted in some applications. Diamond is a mineral composed of pure carbon, which is the hardest substance in nature. There is little diamond in nature, so people through high temperature and pressure to convert the carbon into diamond nowadays. This synthetic diamond has higher hardness and better performance in strength, nearly a decade of development in our country very rapidly, particularly in some of the cutting tools and handicraft industries are becoming more common. In addition, diamond is also known as super-abrasive in stone, construction, industrial processing, aerospace, electronics, precision measuring instruments and other fields. Currently, due to the rapid development of the diamond industry, it is growing at a high speed to produce a lot of new diamond tools, some far more than conventional carbide tools in performance. Especially domestic priority level of technology and equipment, mainly in small and medium sized carbide rod and plate-based, there some defects in the large carbide products, which is the focus of the future is the development of domestic carbide industry.

Recently, the school enterprise cooperation project team of multi metal concentrator of Hunan Shizhuyuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. and Central South University transform the process flow of tungsten mineral processing, primarily through technological innovation and other means to improve the grade of tungsten concentrates and the recovery rate of tungsten. Reversing the downturn situation of tungsten industry recently. Multi metal concentrator of Hunan Shizhuyuan began to flotation separation test at the end of 2014, using the original wolframite slime idle flotation device. After testing more than five months, recovery and grade of tungsten have been greatly improved, this can be applied in practical production.

After getting good results, this plant promote technology to 2000 tons / day workshop tungsten roughing in August 2015, after technicians careful debugging for a period, the whole plant rougher tungsten segment has a stable milling of ores indicators. In order to further improve the efficiency of new technology tungsten beneficiation experiments, the technicians began a 24-hour spell line system from 2016, monitoring the experimental dynamic of index in real time. As a raw material of tungsten heater, constantly improve the beneficiation process of tungsten can not only improve the quality of products, but also ensure that supply number.

The development of innovative technology also improves the recovery rate, so that resources can be repeated used, which is good for the protection of the environment and greatly reduce production costs. The successful case of this plant plays a leading role on chinese tungsten industry, which is a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of mineral processing of tungsten, and promotes the development of related industries. In the fierce market competition, enterprises are facing a number of random changes. Enterprises can inspire the original and potential innovation vitality only to make innovations constantly that can brings abundant profit.

According to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Network reported that Jiangxi Nonferrous Metals Geological Exploration Bureau discovered new tungsten ore bodies. After four years of mineral geological survey, the project "Xiushui County, Jiangxi Province Wanghuojian Tungsten Ore Census" of Jiangxi Nonferrous Metals Geological Exploration Bureau was checked and accepted by expert group with a good level. Through efforts from all sides, the Exploration Bureau discovered new tungsten ore and gold ore bodies. The expert group has carefully listened to the report of results of the project.

This is another important discovery after worldwide scale tungsten ore was found in Jiangxi in 2014. This major discovery makes the tungsten resources in Jiangxi form the new pattern "Three Pillars", which consists of southern Jiangxi, northern Jiangxi, and northwestern Jiangxi. It further established the position of "World Tungsten" of Jiangxi, improving the level of protection of tungsten ore resources, consolidating the discourse power of tungsten ore for China in the world. Therefore, this discovery plays a significance role on tungsten reserves and development. Analysts believe that, A-share listed companies, Chongyi Zhangyuan Tungsten Co.,Ltd, Jiangxi Copper Corporation, Xiamen Tungsten Co.,Ltd and other relevant local companies are expected to directly benefit from it.

Tungsten and its alloys is one of important functional materials for the modern industrial, defense and high-tech applications, which are widely used in aerospace, atomic energy, shipbuilding, automotive industry, electrical industry, electronic industry, chemical industry and many other areas. China, as one of the world's largest tungsten resources reserves countries, due to irrational exploitation of rare earth, and tungsten belongs to non-renewable resources, therefore, currently it is exhausted. And new discovery of the tungsten ore in Jiangxi, will improve the situation of tungsten resources to some extent. Tungsten is important raw material for tungsten heater and other tungsten products, so tungsten ore discovery will greatly promote the mass production of tungsten related products.

The first trading week of June, China domestic tungsten market has slight fell down, and the price continues decrease slowly. APT price decreasing range and speed is higher than tungsten concentrate and tungsten powder.

In mid-May, the tungsten price is being decrease slowly, but the tungsten concentrate decline range is not so obvious. 65% tungsten concentrate price declined form highest 78,000 RMB/ton to the current 72,000 RMB/tons, down by 7.7%. Supported by mine cost, when the capital is sufficient and traders and mining mentality is still good, the price will not decline sharply. The end of May and the beginning of June, some small mines have been recovery production and the products will gradually flow to the market this month, but the quantity of tungsten concentrate production is not large. The end of May, after concentrated to release a part of tungsten concentrates stock, the tungsten ore traders who are currently showing a little reluctant to sell it, so the price is stable. They are waiting for the right time.

The price of finished tungsten products which are made by tungsten powder also decline, affected by raw material price fell down. Although tungsten powder manufacturers price adjustment appeared late, but subject to the poor turnover, in the end of May they were forced to cut prices. At the beginning of May, when raw material price increased, tungsten carbide purchase willing has become increasingly weak, because it is very difficult for alloy product to increase the price. Besides, the cost of the alloy was gradually increased to the bearable breakeven line and many manufacturers unbearable to stand it, so some alloy companies decided to reduce the production to avoid the high cost production after the rapid rise. However, the price suddenly declined at the end of May, so tungsten carbide manufacturers do not worry to buy raw material. They can buy raw material as needed and turnover is little.

The price of APT decline range and speed is relatively large. From the highest 127,000 RMB/ton fell to the lowest 111,000 RMB/ton, drop by 12.6%. In the bulk market, traders faster adjusted the price and in the mid-May quick released a part of APT in the short term to maintain the early profit and can get the cash for circulation. However, APT manufacturers’ price adjustment is relatively cautious. They are focused on the long single-oriented transactions, making price change relatively modest. Whether the price increase or slight decline, APT price not only maintains a reasonable profit, but also surrenders part of the profits to manufacturers of finished tungsten product, having strong sense for maintain old customers. This week, APT decline range and speed became slow. There is not too much APT stock at the current price. Besides, the traders cut the prices for sale is fewer, and most of them holds wait and see attitude.

As we knew, tungsten market is in the stalemate situation. So whether in raw material or in finished tungsten products, the buyers and the sellers have both been stalemate.

This week tungsten market still has some good news been announced. The guide price of Minmetals and prediction average price of Ganzhou Tungsten Industry Association which often release on 5th of every month this month will be re-released after the eight tungsten enterprises meeting on June 7, 2016.

June 7, 2016 the eight largest tungsten mining enterprises will gather in Chaozhou to hold the third meeting, and the topic will focus on "production reduction, production limitation, quoted price". Tungsten market has high degree concern on this meeting, because after the first two meeting, market confidence has been greatly boosted and the meeting can well reflect the market price. The effect of this meeting is still worth to wait, but in the off-season June, July and August, the probability of prices rise sharply is small, but the probability of price maintain in the cost line is large.

The price of tungsten at the end of May price increase came to an end, and has started to slight decline. The main reason is tungsten concentrate and other raw materials price has declined lacking of motivation, so it drops tungsten alloy prices to decline. Beside, the steel market price is declining sharply and the demand is shrinking, resulting in tungsten-based product price slight fell down. In addition, the upcoming meeting of tungsten enterprises, the market is now relatively calm. Manufacturers are waiting for the meeting results for their further action. It is expected that tungsten raw material and tungsten finished product prices will temporarily shrink in the future. There are many China leading tungsten enterprises scheduled on June 7 gathered in Chaozhou, Guangdong, to discuss the company’s production status and current and future situation of tungsten market, and the leading companies including Minmetals, Jiangxi Tungsten Industry Group, Xiamen Tungtsen and so on.

According to statistics, China has been represented 23% of the world's total rare earth reserves, 47% tungsten reserves, and supplied 90% rare earth products for the international market for a long time. Xihua Mountain is the oldest tungsten mine in China, has been described as pedigree of chinese tungsten industry. After one hundred years of mining history, Xihua Mountain has made outstanding contributions for new China exports, development of special steel industry. However, with the gradual depletion of mineral resources, the development of the area has lagged behind its surrounding area in recent years. Because the unreasonable exploitation of tungsten ore resources is not only an outflow of wealth, but also a serious damage to the environment.

Tungsten ore resources belong to rare earth that is an important strategic non-renewable resource. It is an important raw material to new energy vehicles, missile defense systems, wind turbines, smart phones and other technology products. Chemical properties of tungsten are stable, at room temperature it would not react with air and water. Although China's rare earth is one of the largest storage country in the world, but 90% of tungsten resources in international markets are provided by China, resulting in a rapid decline of rare earth resources in China. China gradually made corresponding measures to solve these problems. In 2011, the government had issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Sustainable and Healthy Development of Rare Earth Industry." Therefore, China continues to strengthen the regulation of the tungsten ore mining in recent years, production tungsten heater will also reduce, although the tungsten resources is gradually exhausted, but until 2012, resource-based enterprises are more than 35 enterprises, accounting for 57.1% of the total number of the enterprise. Therefore, the regulation the tungsten mining will have an impact on the tungsten heater production and prices, but the industry still has good prospects for development.

Aero engine is a one of the most difficult cutting-edge technology to be conquered in aviation fields. For decades, domestic researchers have been unable to fully grasp the researchers of modern aviation engine production and development. The most important reason is in the process of material manufacturing, such as low production and quality level in high-temperature alloys and tungsten carbide. The core indicator of aero engine is thrust-weight ratio, and in order to improve the thrust-weight ratio, we should ensure the capacity of high-temperature turbine blade material improved. Every increase of temperature of 100 degrees Celsius, thrust-weight ratio can be increased by 10%.

In general, a military turbine engine in which a majority of funds invested into research and development of materials. The main structure of aircraft engines, the application of large parts of high-temperature alloys and tungsten carbide, and their manufacture are inseparable from the participation of a rare earth metal. China’s rare earth reservation is the first place in the world, but relatively small reservations of rare metals in the manufacture of high-end aero engine indispensable Ni, Co-based alloys and other long-term controlled by others. But the kinds of situation is expected to be broken, a domestic Molybdenum price $ 2.65 billion from the international mining giant acquired a 56% stake in the largest copper and cobalt Congo (DRC), the mine bears more than 28 million tons of copper and 300 tons of cobalt ore, with an annual capacity of 20.4 tons of copper and 16,000 tons of cobalt., reported by Reuters.

Broadly speaking, tungsten carbide is one of super hard materials made of the hard refractory metal compound and binder phase produced by powder metallurgy process (Powder Metallurgy, PM). From the narrow sense, usually refers to tungsten carbide WC-Co alloy, which has high hardness, high melting point, high strength and excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Even at 1000 ℃ still have high hardness, which can be widely used in cutting tool material, such as turning, milling, planer, drill, boring knives for cutting cast iron, nonferrous metals, plastics, chemical fiber, graphite, glass, stone and ordinary steel can also be used to cut the heat material difficult to machine steel, stainless steel, high manganese steel, tool steel. Take Co as an example, it is a key ingredient in the production of high-temperature alloys, tungsten carbide wear and other materials with wear and corrosion resistance. So it has a broad prospect in military and aero industries, such as armor-piercing ammunition, armored vehicles, aerospace engine.