I. Composition and Manufacturing
Cemented carbide is an alloy material produced through powder metallurgy. Its components are as follows:
| Bonding Materials | Cobalt, nickel, iron (or mixtures thereof) |
| Hard Materials | Tungsten carbide, molybdenum carbide, tantalum carbide, chromium carbide, vanadium carbide, titanium carbide (or mixtures thereof) |
II. Development History
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1923 | Schlerter from Germany added 10% – 20% cobalt to tungsten carbide powder as a binder, inventing the first artificial cemented carbide (tungsten carbide – cobalt alloy), which is second only to diamond in hardness. When cutting steel, the blade wore quickly or had cracking problems. |
| 1929 | Schwarzkov from the U.S. added tungsten carbide and titanium carbide compounds to the original composition, improving the performance of steel – cutting tools. |
| 1969 | Sweden developed a titanium carbide – coated tool (with a matrix of tungsten – titanium – cobalt or tungsten – cobalt cemented carbide). The few – micron – thick coating tripled the tool life and increased the cutting speed by 25% – 50% compared to the same – brand alloy tools. |
| 1970s | The fourth – generation coated tools for machining hard materials emerged. |
III. Excellent Properties
- Hardness: Its high hardness and wear resistance remain basically unchanged even at 500°C and still retain considerable hardness at 1000°C. The hardness of common materials from high to low is as follows:
- Sintered diamond
- Cubic boron nitride
- Cermet
- Cemented carbide
- High – speed steel
- Other Properties: It has good strength, toughness, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance.
IV. Wide Applications
- Cutting Tool Field: Used to manufacture turning tools, milling cutters, planers, drill bits, boring cutters, etc. It can cut cast iron, non – ferrous metals, plastics, chemical fibers, graphite, glass, stone, ordinary steel, heat – resistant steel, stainless steel, high – manganese steel, tool steel, and other hard – to – machine materials.
- Other Fields: Known as “industrial teeth” due to its high hardness, strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. It is used to manufacture cutting tools, cobalt – containing tools, and wear – resistant parts, and is widely applied in military, aerospace, machining, metallurgy, oil drilling, mining, electronics, communication, construction, etc. With the development of downstream industries, the demand for it will continue to increase.
In conclusion, cemented carbide materials, with their remarkable properties and a rich history of development, have firmly established themselves as indispensable in numerous industries. As technology continues to evolve and industries progress, the exploration and utilization of cemented carbide materials are bound to reach new heights, bringing more innovations and breakthroughs.