How Strong is Tungsten Carbide?

When people talk about the hardest materials in the world, tungsten carbide (also known as hard alloy) is almost always mentioned alongside diamond. It is widely used in industrial production, mining, tool manufacturing, and even the jewelry industry. But how strong is tungsten carbide? How does it compare to steel, titanium, and diamond? In this post, we will give you a comprehensive breakdown. Let’s go!

Part 1. What is Tungsten Carbide?

Tungsten carbide, often referred to as hard alloy, is not a pure metal but a chemical compound formed by combining tungsten (W) and carbon (C) under extremely high temperature and pressure. This process creates a dense, ultra-hard material that combines the remarkable properties of both elements.

Due to tungsten’s exceptionally high melting point and the stable bonding with carbon, tungsten carbide exhibits extraordinary hardness, outstanding wear resistance, and excellent durability.

Because of these unique characteristics, tungsten carbide has become indispensable across a wide range of industries. Some of the most common applications include:

Cutting Tools and Drill Bits
Mining Equipment and Wear-Resistant Parts
Mechanical Seals, Valve Seats, and Molds
High-End Jewelry (Rings and Watch Bands)

Tungsten carbide combines the strength and resilience of metals with ceramics to become one of the most versatile and long-term materials available today.

Part 2. How Strong is Tungsten Carbide?

Tungsten carbide is renowned as one of the hardest and most durable materials in engineering, but its true strength comes from a combination of properties, not just hardness. In this section, we’ll explore these key characteristics in detail.

1. Hardness

Tungsten carbide (WC, typically cemented with a cobalt or nickel binder) is extremely hard—commonly near Mohs ~9, second only to diamond (Mohs 10). In engineering terms, many grades fall around HV 1,400–2,200 (Vickers) or ~85–94 HRA (Rockwell A), far above hardened steels and titanium alloys.

What this means in practice: WC cutting edges stay sharp under heavy load and high temperature (“hot hardness”), often retaining useful hardness up to ~600–800 °C, where tool steels soften significantly.

Note: The Mohs scale is not linear; a 1-step difference (9→10) represents a very large jump—diamond will still scratch WC.

Typical comparison (hardness):

Diamond: HV ~6,000–10,000; Mohs 10
Tungsten carbide: HV ~1,400–2,200; ~Mohs 9
Hardened tool steel: HV ~700–900; ~HRC 60–66
Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5): HV ~300–350; HRC ~35

2. Compressive Strength

WC excels in compression, with typical compressive strength ~3–6 GPa (≈3,000–6,000 MPa), often cited around ~4,000 MPa for common grades—multiple times higher than structural steels (≈250–500 MPa) and above most titanium alloys.

Implication: It can support crushing and permanent deformation extremely well.

Related property: WC is also very stiff, having elastic modulus ~530–700 GPa (versus ~200 GPa for steel, ~110 GPa for Ti), so WC parts and tools deform much less under load.

3. Wear Resistance

WC is renowned for superb abrasion and erosion resistance. In the majority of applications, it offers life several to several dozen times greater than hardened steel.

Where it shines: Cutting tools, drill tips, mining buttons, pump sleeves, valve seats, and mold inserts—where abrasive particles, slurry, or hard work materials lead to accelerating wear.

Fine points: Low roughness and stable edges on polished WC surfaces rule out adhesive wear. In corrosive application, Ni-binder grades or coatings (e.g., TiN, TiAlN, DLC) are applied to protect the cobalt binder.

4. Toughness & Brittleness

The cost of extremely high hardness is decreased toughness. Cemented carbides possess fracture toughness typically ~7–15 MPa·√m, significantly lower than most tough steels. They are excellent against compressive loads but will chip or catastrophically fracture more easily from sharp impact, bending, or tensile shock.

Design/usage suggestion:

Avoid compressive loading; reduce prying, sudden impact, and tensile bending.
Select coarser grains and increased binder (e.g., increased Co%) when greater toughness is required (at a loss in hardness/wear).
Employ edge treatments (hone/chamfer) and good toolpaths/feeds to reduce impact.
Steer clear of thermal shock (sudden quench of hot cutting).

Comparison Table: Tungsten Carbide vs. Other Materials

Property	Tungsten Carbide (WC)	Steel	Titanium	Diamond
Hardness & Wear	Extremely high; excellent wear resistance	High	Moderate	Highest
Strength in Compression	Exceptionally high; best for crushing/pressing/contact interfaces	Moderate to high	Moderate	Very high (but brittle)
Toughness	Moderately low; susceptible to chipping under impact	High (especially tool steels)	Moderate	Very low; brittle
Usage Note	Best for cutting tools, mining, wear parts; avoid tensile shocks	Good for general structures and impact applications	Lightweight structures, moderate load	Cutting, abrasives, specialty applications

Part 3. Applications of Tungsten Carbide Strength

The exceptional strength, hardness, and wear resistance of tungsten carbide make it indispensable across a wide range of industries. Its ability to withstand high stress and abrasion ensures long-lasting performance in demanding environments.

Key applications include:

Industrial Cutting and Drilling Tools: Tungsten carbide is widely used in turning tools, milling cutters, and drill bits. Its hardness allows tools to maintain sharp edges even under high loads and elevated temperatures, improving efficiency and precision in machining operations.

Mining and Oil & Gas Industry: In mining and petroleum extraction, tungsten carbide wear parts for mining crushing, such as crushing tools, drill bits, and other wear-resistant components—play a critical role. These components are designed to withstand extreme abrasion and heavy impact, significantly extending the service life of equipment even in the most demanding conditions.

Mechanical and Mold Industry: Tungsten carbide is ideal for punching dies, valve components, and mechanical seals. Its durability reduces maintenance needs and ensures consistent performance in high-pressure or high-wear environments.

High-End Jewelry: WC is increasingly popular in rings, watch bands, and other premium accessories. Beyond its sleek metallic luster, it is valued for scratch resistance and lasting aesthetic appeal, making it a preferred choice for long-lasting luxury items.

Part 4. What are the Limitations of Tungsten Carbide?

While tungsten carbide offers exceptional strength, hardness, and wear resistance, it also comes with certain limitations that should be considered in design and application:

Relative Brittleness: Despite its high compressive strength, WC is relatively brittle compared to steel or titanium. It can chip, crack, or fracture under sudden impact, bending, or tensile stress, making careful handling and design essential.

High Density: Tungsten carbide is very dense and heavy, which can be a drawback in applications where lightweight materials are preferred, such as portable tools.

Difficult to Machine: Its extreme hardness also makes WC challenging to cut, shape, or finish. Specialized tools, processes, and higher manufacturing costs are required, making it more expensive than conventional metals like steel or aluminum.

Despite these limitations, the advantages of durability, wear resistance, and cutting performance often outweigh the drawbacks in industrial, mining, and high-end applications.

Summary: XYMJ Tungsten Carbide Parts

As a professional manufacturer of tungsten carbide parts, XYMJ specializes in designing and producing high-quality, wear-resistant components that are widely used in cutting tools, mining equipment, mechanical molds, valve seats, and other high-strength industrial applications.

XYMJ adheres to the precision manufacturing and stable durability standards, whereby every product will undergo severe quality inspection to meet the highest quality for strength, hardness, and wear resistance. We provide efficient and professional services tailored to your requirements either for general parts or custom products.

With XYMJ tungsten carbide parts, you get: