(1) Tungsten Cobalt Cemented Carbide

The main components are tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt, and the grade is indicated by the code YG ("hard" and "cobalt" in Hanyu Pinyin), followed by the percentage value of cobalt content. For example, YG6 is a tungsten cobalt carbide with a cobalt content of 6% and a tungsten carbide content of 94%.

(2) Tungsten Titanium Cobalt Cemented Carbide

The main components are tungsten carbide (WC), titanium carbide (TiC) and cobalt, with the code YT ("hard", "titanium" two words in Hanyu Pinyin), followed by the percentage value of titanium carbide content. For example, YT15 is a tungsten, titanium and cobalt carbide with a titanium carbide content of 15%.

(3) Tungsten, titanium and tantalum (niobium) carbide

This type of carbide is also known as general-purpose carbide or universal carbide, the main components are tungsten carbide (WC), titanium carbide (TiC), tantalum carbide (TaC) or niobium carbide (NbC) and cobalt composition. The grade is indicated by the code YW ("hard" and "wan" in Hanyu Pinyin) followed by the ordinal number.

Applications of Cemented Carbide

(1) Tool materials

Cemented carbide is used as the largest number of tool materials, which can be made into turning tools, milling tools, planing tools, drill bits, etc.. Among them, tungsten cobalt carbide is suitable for ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal short chip processing and processing of non-metallic materials, such as cast iron, casting brass, rubber wood, etc.; tungsten titanium cobalt carbide is suitable for steel and other ferrous metal long chip processing. In the same kind of alloy, the one with more cobalt content is suitable for rough machining and the one with less cobalt content is suitable for finishing. General purpose carbide has a much longer machining life than other carbides for difficult to machine materials such as stainless steel.

(2) Tooling materials

Cemented carbide is mainly used for cold drawing dies, cold punching dies, cold extrusion dies, cold pier dies and other cold working dies.

Carbide cold heading die in the impact or strong impact of wear-resistant working conditions, the commonality is the requirement of carbide has a good impact toughness, fracture toughness, fatigue strength, bending strength and good wear resistance. Usually medium and high cobalt and medium and coarse grain alloy grades are used, commonly known as YG15C.

Generally speaking, the relationship between wear resistance and toughness of cemented carbide is contradictory: an increase in wear resistance will lead to a decrease in toughness, while an increase in toughness will inevitably lead to a decrease in wear resistance. Therefore, when choosing a grade of alloy, it is necessary to meet the specific requirements of use according to the processing object and processing working conditions.

If the chosen grade is prone to early cracking and damage in use, it is advisable to use a higher toughness grade; if the chosen grade is prone to early wear and damage in use, it is advisable to use a grade with higher hardness and better wear resistance. The following grades: YG6C, YG8C, YG15C, YG18C, YG20C from left to right, the hardness is reduced, the wear resistance is reduced and the toughness is increased; conversely, the opposite.

(3) Gauges and wear-resistant parts

Cemented carbide is used for the wear-resistant surface inlay and parts of gauges, precision bearings for grinding machines, guide plates and guide rods for centerless grinding machines, and wear-resistant parts such as lathe tops