Different Carbides

Although tungsten carbide plays an important role in the industrial market, many other carbides exist in various industries. In this article, you will know different kinds of carbides. They are:

1. Boron carbide;

2. Silicon carbide;

3. Tungsten carbide;

Boron carbide

Boron carbide is a crystalline compound of boron and carbon. It is a kind of synthetically produced material with high hardness so that it can be widely used in abrasive and wear-resistant products, lightweight composite materials, and can also be applied in control rods for nuclear power generation.

As an industrial material, boron carbide has many properties. It has the Mohs hardness of 9 to 10, and it is also one of the hardest tool materials. With such a high hardness and low density, boron carbide can be used as a reinforcing agent for aluminum in the military. Its high wear resistance made it possible to find applications as the material of abrasive blasting nozzles and pump seals. Boron carbide can be used as an abrasive in powdered form in the fine abrading of metal and ceramic products. However, with a low oxidation temperature of 400–500° C, boron carbide is unable to withstand the heat of grinding hardened tool steels. 

Silicon carbide

Silicon carbide is a crystalline compound of silicon and carbon. It was discovered in 1891 by an American inventor. Then silicon carbide is employed as an important material for sandpapers, grinding wheels, and cutting tools. Not until modern industry silicon carbide is found to be used in wear-resistance parts for pumps and even rocket engines, and so on.

Before the discovery of boron carbide, silicon carbide was the hardest material. It also has fracture characteristics, high thermal conductivity, high-temperature strength, low thermal expansion, and resistance to a chemical reaction.

Tungsten carbide

Tungsten carbide is the most popular tool material in modern industry, which consists of tungsten carbide powder and a certain amount of cobalt or nickel powder as a binder. Tungsten carbide is a dense substance in light gray. It is different to melt with a high melting point. Tungsten carbide has high hardness, wear resistance, impact resistance, shock resistance, and strength and can work for a long time. And tungsten carbide can be manufactured into different shapes and types of tungsten carbide products, such as tungsten carbide buttons, tungsten carbide inserts, tungsten carbide rods, tungsten carbide strips, tungsten carbide balls, tungsten carbide valves, and tungsten carbide punch pins. They are widely used in modern industries, such as mining, gas, oil, cutting, manufacturing, controlling fluids, and so on. 

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