Cemented Carbide Cutting Tools

Tungsten carbide is the most widely used class of high-speed machining (HSM) tool materials, such materials are produced by powder metallurgy process, consisting of hard carbide (usually tungsten carbide WC) particles and soft metal bonding. At present, there are hundreds of different components of WC-based cemented carbide, most of them use cobalt (Co) as a bond, nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) are also commonly used bonding elements, in addition to some other alloying elements can be added. Why are there so many cemented carbide grades? How does a cutting tool manufacturer choose the right tool material for a particular cutting process? To answer these questions, let's first look at the various properties that make cemented carbide an ideal cutting tool material.

Hardness and toughness：WC-Co carbide has unique advantages in both hardness and toughness. Tungsten carbide (WC) itself has a high hardness (more than corundum or alumina), and its hardness rarely decreases when the operating temperature rises. However, it lacks sufficient toughness, which is an essential property for cutting tools. In order to take advantage of the high hardness of tungsten carbide and improve its toughness, people use metal bonding agents to combine tungsten carbide together, so that this material has a hardness far exceeding that of high-speed steel, and at the same time can withstand the cutting force in most cutting processes. In addition, it can withstand the high cutting temperatures generated by high-speed machining.

Today, almost all WC-Co tools and blades are coated, so the role of the base material seems to be less important. But in fact, it is the high elastic coefficient of WC-Co material (a measure of stiffness, the room temperature elastic coefficient of WC-Co is about three times that of high-speed steel) that provides the coating with a non-deformation base. The WC-Co matrix also provides the required toughness. These properties are the basic properties of WC-Co materials, but it is also possible to customize the material properties by adjusting the material composition and micro-structure when producing cemented carbide powder. Therefore, the suitability of tool properties for a particular process depends largely on the initial pulverizing process.

To conclude, a basic knowledge of each cutting tool material and its performance is important when making the correct selection. Considerations include the work-piece material to be machined, the component type and shape, machining conditions and the level of surface quality required for each operation. Apparently, cemented is a good choice for making cutting tools, ZZBETTER Carbide Tools Company has over ten years experience for manufacturing almost all kinds of tungsten carbide tools.

Welcome to contact us if you have any question or requirement about cemented carbide tools, we are also able to do non-standardized products only if you provide your drawings.