Industrial carbide metal, sometimes known as tungsten carbide, is a mineral compound made of carbon and tungsten alloyed with a softer metal, usually cobalt. The benefits of carbide metal are its hardness, low ductility at high temperatures, high thermal and electrical conductivity and strength. Because carbide metal parts last longer, they offer cost savings through less downtime to replace worn parts, greater productivity and smaller parts inventories.

Carbide metal is used in a variety of applications. Its hardness and strength make it the metal of choice for cutting tools. The body of the tool is generally made of steel (which is less brittle and less expensive) with a carbide metal tip brazed onto the body. Carbide blades can hold an edge ten to twenty times longer than a steel edge. Carbide metal is also used on machine parts, dies and punches. Tungsten carbide wire is used in electrical applications. When looking for carbide metal products, consider the following applications:

1. Carbide metal cutting tools

2. Wear and machine parts, dies and punches

3. Tungsten carbide metal wire

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy carbide metals used in cutting tools

Carbide tipped blades are used to cut through steel rods, pipes, studs, bars and channels. Carbide cutting blades last longer and resist breakage. They can also be resharpened for increased value.

I recommend: Carbide.com sells carbide metal cutting tools, such as circular saw blades, router bits, shape cutters, bandsaw blades and surface and driver bits. Tools Today offers carbide metal cutting tools to cut steel pipes, rods, and bars.

Purchase carbide metal products for machine parts, dies and punches

Carbide metal's strength and hardness make it preferred for extrusion dies, drawing dies, carbide wear parts and punches for the defense, automotive and aerospace industries.

I recommend: Philadelphia Carbide manufactures machine parts and wear parts from industrial carbide metals. Southern Carbide Die specializes in carbide metals for dies, punches and wear parts.

Compare wire carbide metal prices from carbide metal distributors

Carbide metal wire is used in electrical and high voltage power applications because its thermal and electrical conductivity offers greater luminosity and long life.

I recommend: Midwest Tungsten Products has wire carbide metal for sale by the spool for use in vacuum heating elements and medical devices. Sylvania is a leading manufacturer of tungsten wire used in a wide range of applications in the electronic tube, lamp, computer and vacuum metallizing industries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Adequate ventilation is necessary when manufacturing carbides because dust is created that can cause fibrosis.
• •  The term 'sintering' is used to describe the process of combining tungsten carbide metal with cobalt.
• •  Carbide metal tools are sometimes coated to increase the life of the tool and reduce the heat created during the cutting process.