Solid carbide question

[Hengelo_77]

A lot of tools and file guides etc are made with solid carbide surfaces.

I tried to look up 'solid carbide' and 'carbide' on wikipedia but it comes up with many different carbides.

So what carbide is used for hard tool surfaces?

 

[White Rabbit]

I believe that tungsten carbide is the most common for tool applications.

 

[JasonSCarter]

Many folks mistake carbide for an element all it's own. due to our not being specific about what kind of carbide we're talking about. Yes Tungsten Carbide is what most "carbide" tooling is made from. when you quench your steel knife your creating Iron Carbide. some carbides can even be flamable/explosive like Calcium Carbide!

Jason

 

[Hengelo_77]

Am I right when I think that tungsten carbide and 'widia' are the same?

Calcium Carbide can give quite a bang!

 

[mete]

http://www.economy-point.org/w/widia.html
The amount of cobalt determines toughness ,more cobalt > tougher

 

[Hengelo_77]

Thnx, at work we have 'Widia' machine cutters. They are 'gold'coloured
Wonderfull stuff.

 

[mete]

W Carbide is black , the gold is probably TiN coating.