Tungsten carbide prices are on the rise. Like many recyclable materials, domestic supply, tariff uncertainty, a downturn in Chinese production, and manufacturer demands are driving up the market for this commodity. Read on to learn more about what’s going on with carbide.
Tungsten carbide (WC) is a heat-resistent (and extremely strong) compound of tungsten and carbon, used frequently in the production of durable tools, wear parts, and consumer goods like rings. It is manufactured by heating tungsten with carbon, then embedding these carbide grains into a metal binder, typically cobalt, and pressing and sintering the mixture to form a dense, strong material.
It’s easy to confuse tungsten carbide with other metals, such as tool steel. Because tungsten is incredibly dense, a relatively small piece of tungsten will actually be quite heavy. Tungsten is non-magnetic and quite brittle, breaking easily under the right circumstances. It’s also resistant to corrosion and oxidation, making it ideal for applications like jet engine manufacturing and tooling.
At Research Alloys, we specialize in all types of metal. While some recycling facilities don’t purchase carbide, we happily purchase it in all quantities– whether you’ve got a few old drill bits from your home workshop, or are looking to sell thousands of pounds from your industrial machine shop, stop by or give us a call for pricing.