TUNGSTEN CARBIDE Property

Melting point:

≈2800°C

Density 

17.15

solubility 

insoluble in H2O

form 

Powder

Specific Gravity

17.15

color 

Black

Resistivity

81.0 (ρ/μΩ.cm)

Water Solubility 

Soluble in nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid. Insoluble in water.

Crystal Structure

Hexagonal

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 3 mg/m3
NIOSH: TWA 5 mg/m3; STEL 10 mg/m3

CAS DataBase Reference

12070-13-2

EPA Substance Registry System

Tungsten carbide (W2C) (12070-13-2)

Safety

RIDADR 

UN3178

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

4.1

PackingGroup 

III

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Hazard statements

H228Flammable solid

Precautionary statements

P210Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. — No smoking.

P240Ground/bond container and receiving equipment.

P241Use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/lighting/…/equipment.

P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

TUNGSTEN CARBIDE Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

black hexagonal, a=0.29982 nm, c=0.4722nm; can be prepared by heating tungsten and carbon in the presence of hydrogen at high temperatures; hardness approaches that of diamond; brittle; used in hard metals, and as a 99.5% pure sputtering target to produce wear-resistant films and semiconductor films [KIR83] [CIC73] [CER91] [CRC10]

Physical properties

Black. Resistant to oxidation in air up to 700°C. Corrosion resistant to Mo.

Uses

Tungsten carbide is used in industrial machinery, cutting tools, abrasives, armor-piercing rounds and jewelry. It is preferred even over stainless steel because of their incredible hardness and resistance to wear and tear. It is utilized for the manufacture of mill products including grinding and milling. It also includes tipping trekking, ski poles as well as cleats. It is mainly used in the form of cemented tungsten carbide.

Uses

Tungsten Carbide/Carbon (WC/C) is a black-gray colored coating of hard tungsten carbide particles in a soft amorphous carbon matrix. It is used for precision components with abrasive and adhesive wear, seizure problems (poor lubrication) and for dry machining applications.

Definition

Either of two carbides (W₂C and WC) produced by heating powdered tungsten with carbon. The carbides are extremely hard and are used in industry to make cutting tools or as an abrasive. WC has a very high melting point (2770°C) and will conduct electricity. W₂C also has a very high melting point (2780°C) but is a less efficient conductor of electricity. It is very resistant to chemical attack and behaves in a manner very similar to that of tungsten. It is strongly attacked by chlorine to give tungsten hexachloride, WCl₆.