Tungsten Carbide Rings

Forged with tungsten carbide’s extreme hardness, they ensure tight seals and wear resistance. Ideal for high – pressure, high – friction environments, our rings maintain precision under relentless stress.

Ring Types Kedel Provides for You

Tungsten carbide rings, leveraging extreme hardness and wear resistance, serve as critical components in precision machinery, automotive, aerospace, and mold – making sectors. Their ability to maintain integrity under high – stress, high – friction conditions makes them indispensable for enhancing equipment lifespan and operational efficiency.

Application Scenarios of Rings

With their superior hardness and wear resistance, tungsten carbide rings carve out essential roles in industrial realms. From precision machinery to high – stress engineering, their application scope stretches far and wide, constantly redefining the limits of industrial reliability.

Mechanical Sealing Field

Oil and Gas Drilling Industry

Chemical Equipment

Mechanical Engineering Field

Metal Rolling Scenarios

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What is a tungsten carbide ring?

Tungsten carbide rings are indispensable in diverse industries, thanks to their remarkable performance. In precision machining, they seal high – pressure, high – speed systems to prevent leaks and ensure stable operation. In mold manufacturing, their hardness and wear resistance maintain precise dimensions during repeated cycles, boosting mold longevity. In petrochemicals, they offer durable sealing and support for pipelines and valves in harsh, corrosive, high – temp environments.

Their manufacturing uses advanced powder metallurgy. Tungsten carbide powder mixes with a binder in strict proportions, gets compacted under high pressure into a pre – ring shape, and then sinters at extreme temps to fuse particles into a dense structure. Post – sintering, finishing like grinding, lapping, or cutting refines dimensions and accuracy for industrial needs.

Due to exceptional performance, these rings are widely used in critical equipment. In automotive manufacturing, they enable smooth, leak – free fluid control in high – precision hydraulic systems. In aerospace, they withstand extreme stress in aircraft engines and landing gear. In mining machinery, they ensure sealing and structural integrity of heavy – duty crushers and conveyors, delivering efficient, stable, long – lasting performance under rigorous demands.

Common Nozzle Hole Structures

The structural design of tungsten carbide rings dictates core performance metrics like sealing efficiency, load – bearing capacity, and wear resistance, directly influencing their in industrial applications.

Straight - Wall Type

Structural Feature：Features a uniform cylindrical cross – section with parallel inner and outer walls. The simple, consistent structure ensures stable dimensional tolerance.
Functional Advantage：Delivers reliable static sealing under low – to – medium pressure. Minimizes friction during axial/radial movement, suitable forial movement, suitable for precision guiding components.
Typical Applications：General – purpose seals in standard pumps, valves, and hydraulic cylinders; guiding rings in precision machining tools (e.g., CNC lathe spindles).

Tapered Type (Conical)

Structural Feature：Inner/outer diameters show gradual tapering (e.g., 3°–15° angle). The conical profile creates a self – centering effect under axial load.
Functional Advantage：Concentrates pressure to enhance sealing integrity in high – pressure systems. Improves load distribution, reducing localized wear.
Typical Applications：High – pressure oil/gas wellhead equipment; sealing rings in mining machinery (e.g., rock breaker hydraulic systems); cone crushers’ wear parts.

Grooved Type (Spiral/Annular)

Structural Feature：Integrates spiral/annular grooves on inner/outer surfaces. Grooves may be single or multi – channel, with depths of 0.2–1.5 mm.
Functional Advantage：Grooves act as lubricant reservoirs, reducing friction and heat. Spiral grooves can also guide fluid flow to flush contaminants.
Typical Applications：Sealing rings in high – speed rotating equipment (e.g., turbo – pump seals); wear – resistant rings in marine propeller shafts (with seawater lubrication).

What You Need to Know About Common Ring Parameters

The common parameters of tungsten carbide rings mainly revolve around aspects like material composition, physical properties, and dimensional accuracy. Different application scenarios emphasize distinct parameters. Here’s a breakdown of the core parameters

1. Material Composition Parameters

(1) Tungsten Carbide (WC) Content

Most industrial – grade tungsten carbide rings use WC as the base, combined with bonding metals (such as cobalt – Co, nickel – Ni). For example, in the common YG series (tungsten – cobalt type), the WC content usually ranges from 85% to 95% (e.g., YG8 contains about 92% WC and 8% Co). The higher the WC content, the greater the hardness and wear resistance, but the toughness may decrease.
In special scenarios, other carbides (like titanium carbide, tantalum carbide) are added for modification to optimize high – temperature stability and oxidation resistance. The proportion of such “composite components” needs to be clearly marked.

(2) Bonding Phase Metal and Its Content

Cobalt (Co) is the most commonly used binder, with a content generally between 3% and 20%. A low Co content (e.g., 3% – 6%) focuses on high hardness and wear resistance, suitable for precision grinding/precision sealing; a high Co content (e.g., 10% – 20%) enhances toughness and impact resistance, suitable for high – load scenarios such as the mining industry.
In some corrosion – resistant scenarios, nickel (Ni) is used as the bonding phase, and the Ni content and alloy formula (such as the WC – Ni system) need to be marked.

2. Physical Property Parameters

(1) Hardness

It is commonly measured by Rockwell Hardness (HRA) or Vickers Hardness (HV). The HRA of industrial rings is mostly in the range of 89 – 93 (close to the hardness of diamond), and the HV can reach 1200 – 2400. For high – temperature working conditions (such as in aerospace), the “high – temperature hardness retention rate” needs to be marked (e.g., the hardness at 700℃ remains more than 80% of that at room temperature).

(2) Strength and Toughness

Bending Strength: Reflects the fracture resistance, with the unit of MPa. It is generally in the range of 1500 – 3000 MPa (e.g., the bending strength of YG8 is about 1800 MPa). Higher values are required for high – impact scenarios (such as in crushers).
Tensile Strength: It is rarely concerned alone, but needs to be marked for extreme tensile working conditions, usually in the range of 980 – 1500 MPa.

(3) Density

It fluctuates in the range of 14.5 – 15.5 g/cm³ due to composition differences (the theoretical density of pure WC is about 15.63 g/cm³). The closer the density is to the theoretical value, the higher the material density and the more stable the performance. Precision equipment sealing rings have strict requirements for density uniformity.

(4) Thermal Properties

Melting Point: The melting point of pure WC is about 2870℃. After adding the bonding phase, the melting point of the alloy decreases. The “upper limit of operating temperature” needs to be marked (e.g., the recommended operating temperature for conventional rings is ≤ 500℃, and specially modified rings can be extended to 800℃).
Thermal Conductivity: It affects the heat dissipation efficiency, with a value of about 80 – 160 W/(m·K). High – temperature equipment (such as hot rolling mills) requires high thermal conductivity to reduce thermal stress.

3. Dimensional and Precision Parameters

(1) Basic Dimensions

Mark the Inner Diameter (ID), Outer Diameter (OD), and Thickness (T), such as “Inner Diameter 20mm, Outer Diameter 30mm, Thickness 5mm”, to adapt to the sealing/support structures of different equipment.

(2) Geometric Tolerances

Roundness and Cylindricity: Precision sealing rings require a roundness of ≤ 0.002mm and a cylindricity of ≤ 0.005mm to ensure the sealing performance when matching with shafts/holes.
Surface Roughness: It directly affects the sealing effect. The Ra of the sealing surface is usually ≤ 0.2μm, and for ultra – precision scenarios (such as in aerospace hydraulic systems), Ra ≤ 0.05μm is required.

(3) Parameters of Special Structures

For rings with grooves/threads, mark the groove depth, groove width, thread profile/pitch (e.g., spiral groove depth 0.5mm, width 1mm); for composite structure rings (such as inner and outer double conical surfaces), mark the cone angle (e.g., 5° – 10°).

4. Application – Adapted Parameters

(1) Working Condition – Adapted Parameters

Such as “maximum working pressure” (mining rings need to withstand 20 – 50 MPa), “medium compatibility” (chemical industry rings need to mark acid – alkali/corrosion resistance levels), and “wear – resistant service life” (mining conveyor rings require no obvious wear for ≥ 5000 hours).

(2) Industry Standard Parameters

Different fields have exclusive specifications. For example, the petroleum industry needs to comply with API standards, and the mold industry refers to ISO precision part tolerances. When selecting, it is necessary to match the corresponding industry parameter systems.

These parameters are interrelated. When selecting, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the equipment working conditions (pressure, temperature, medium) and functional requirements (sealing/wear resistance/support). For example, mining crushing rings focus on high hardness and impact resistance, while chemical industry sealing rings pay more attention to corrosion resistance and low leakage rate.

What Materials Are Commonly Used in Production?

Through the optimization of materials and processes, the service life of tungsten carbide rings under extreme working conditions can reach 5 – 10 times that of ordinary materials, making them core wear – resistant components in the petroleum, natural gas, and mining industries.

Tungsten Carbide (Cemented Carbide)

Hardness and Wear Resistance: With a hardness of 2000–2500 HV, second only to diamond, it offers exceptional wear resistance (★★★★★). It can withstand long-term erosion from solid particles like sand-laden mud and mineral slurry, making it suitable for high-wear, high-pressure scenarios such as oil drilling and mining hydraulic cutting.
Corrosion Resistance: Cobalt-based tungsten carbide has moderate corrosion resistance (★★★★☆), while nickel-based formulations significantly enhance acid/alkali resistance, ideal for moderate-corrosion environments like acidic oilfields.
Cost: High initial cost, but its service life is 5–10 times that of ordinary materials, providing significant long-term cost advantages.
Typical Applications: Oil drilling nozzles, mining wear-resistant conveying nozzles, high-pressure waterjet cutting heads.

High - Speed Steel (e.g., W6Mo5Cr4V2)

Hardness and Wear Resistance: High hardness (60 – 65 HRC, ★★★★☆) and good wear resistance, can maintain hardness at high temperatures, resistant to wear by general abrasive media. Suitable for scenarios with certain wear and high – speed cutting requirements (e.g., tool rings, precision machining auxiliary rings).
Corrosion Resistance: Poor resistance to conventional corrosion (★★☆☆☆), prone to oxidation and rust in humid or acidic environments, needs additional anti – corrosion treatment for harsh conditions.
Cost: Moderate initial cost, with long service life in suitable scenarios, relatively low long – term maintenance cost.
Typical Applications: Tool rings for precision machining, auxiliary rings for high – speed cutting equipment, some wear – resistant components in general industrial machinery.

Silicon Carbide (SiC)

Hardness and Wear Resistance: Extremely high hardness (2500–3000 HV, ★★★★★), one of the hardest engineering materials, with superior wear resistance for ultra-high temperature and severe wear scenarios (e.g., rocket engine nozzles).
Corrosion Resistance: Exceptional resistance to acids, alkalis, and high-temperature oxidation (★★★★★), stable in extreme chemical environments.
Cost: Extremely high cost and complex processing, limited to specialized high-end fields like aerospace and nuclear energy.
Typical Applications: Aerospace engine fuel nozzles, high-temperature furnace slag discharge nozzles, semiconductor etching equipment nozzles.

Ceramic (e.g., Aluminum Oxide Al₂O₃)

Hardness and Wear Resistance: Moderate hardness (1200–1500 HV, ★★★☆☆), better than metals but lower than tungsten carbide. Suitable for low-wear liquid spraying (e.g., chemical solutions, food-grade cleaning).
Corrosion Resistance: Excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, and salts (★★★★★), making it ideal for chemical, pharmaceutical, and other corrosive environments.
Cost: Medium cost, but high brittleness and low impact resistance limit its use in high-load scenarios.
Typical Applications: Chemical reaction kettle nozzles, food processing cleaning nozzles, laboratory corrosion-resistant spray heads.

What Products Are Commonly Used For?

The core value of tungsten carbide rings lies in delivering exceptional wear resistance and structural stability under harsh industrial conditions. By leveraging their high hardness and adjustable material formulations (e.g., cobalt/nickel binders), they replace vulnerable metals or ceramics in critical sealing, load – bearing, and wear – prone components. This reduces equipment downtime, cuts replacement costs, and maintains precise dimensional accuracy over long – term operation, outperforming conventional materials in extreme scenarios.

Pumps

Application: Centrifugal pumps, reciprocating pumps in oil/gas, chemical, and refining industries.
Role: Seals aggressive fluids (corrosive, particle – laden media) under high pressure/temperature. Prevents leakage, extends pump lifespan in harsh conditions.
Why Choose It: Withstands abrasion from solid particles; resists corrosion by acids/alkalies. Maintains sealing integrity 3–5x longer than metal/ceramic rings.

Compressors

Application: Reciprocating/centrifugal compressors in petrochemical, natural gas sectors.
Role: Seals high – pressure gas streams (e.g., methane, hydrogen). Endures cyclic pressure changes and extreme temperatures.
Why Choose It: High hardness (≥90 HRA) resists deformation; low friction ensures stable operation. Cuts maintenance downtime by 40% in high – cycle systems.

Agitators

Application: Reactor agitators in chemical, pharmaceutical plants (corrosive, high – temp environments).
Role: Seals rotating shafts against reactive fluids (e.g., solvents, catalysts). Prevents hazardous leaks into reactors.
Why Choose It: Maintains precision tolerances (≤0.002mm) under continuous rotation. Outperforms stainless steel in acidic media by 80%+ lifespan.

Valves

Application: Gate valves, globe valves in oil/gas pipelines, chemical processing (high – pressure, abrasive media).
Role: Seals valve seats/discs to block fluid flow. Critical for zero – leakage in emergency shutdown systems.
Why Choose It: Resists galling (metal adhesion) during frequent cycling; handles abrasive slurries (e.g., mining sludge) without failure.

Rotary Joints

Application: Cooling systems (CNC machines), hydraulic circuits (injection molding), paper mills (steam transfer).
Role: Seals rotating interfaces in multi – directional fluid transfer. Adapts to high – speed rotation (≤3000 RPM) and mixed media.
Why Choose It: Self – lubricating under dry – run conditions; maintains seal in misaligned shafts. Reduces leakage rates by 90% vs. rubber seals.

What Is the Replacement Cycle?

The replacement cycle of tungsten carbide alloy rings varies significantly depending on operating conditions (pressure, medium, temperature, etc.), equipment type, and material formulation. Below is a reference table for typical scenarios

Application Scenario	Typical Equipment/Component	Replacement Cycle Reference	Factors Impacting the Cycle
Pump Sealing (Petrochemical centrifugal pumps, reciprocating pumps)	Tungsten carbide sealing ring	1–3 years	In particle – rich, high – pressure (＞20MPa) conditions, the cycle shortens to ~1 year; In clean, low – pressure scenarios (e.g., pure water transfer), it extends to 3 years
Compressor Sealing (Natural gas reciprocating compressors)	Dynamic/static seal assembly	8–18 months	Under high – pressure (＞30MPa), high – speed (＞5000RPM) conditions, wear/thermal stress reduce the cycle to 8 months; In mild conditions (pressure ＜10MPa, room temperature), it lasts up to 18 months
Agitator Sealing (Chemical reactor agitator shafts)	Shaft – end sealing ring	1.5–4 years	Strongly corrosive media (e.g., strong acids/alkalis) accelerate wear, shortening the cycle to 1.5 years; In neutral media, low – speed agitation (＜500RPM), it operates for 4 years
Valve Sealing (High – pressure gate valves in oil pipelines)	Valve seat/disc sealing ring	6–24 months	Valves with frequent cycling (＞20 cycles/day) or sand – laden media require replacement every 6 months; Valves with stable operation (＜10 cycles/month) and clean media last up to 24 months
Rotary Joints (CNC machine cooling systems)	High – speed rotary sealing ring	1–2 years	In high – speed (＞3000RPM), multi – medium (oil/water mixture) scenarios, replacement occurs ~1 year; In low – speed (＜1000RPM), single – medium (e.g., pure oil) conditions, it extends to 2 years

Special Notes

Extreme Conditions (e.g., highly abrasive mining slurries, aerospace ultra – high temperatures): Cycles may be ＜6 months. Real – time monitoring (vibration, leakage detection) is critical for timing replacements.
Material Upgrades: Rings modified with titanium/tantalum carbides extend service life by 30%–50% in corrosive/high – temperature environments.
Maintenance Practices: Regular cleaning, lubrication, and online monitoring (pressure sensors, infrared thermometry) enable early failure warnings, avoiding unexpected downtime.

For actual operations, adjust replacement timing based on equipment logs and wear inspection reports, prioritizing seal reliability and equipment safety.