How Is Carbide Made?

In this video, we take a deep dive into the fascinating process of how raw materials like tungsten and carbon are transformed into one of the hardest and most versatile materials in the world—carbide! From mining tungsten ore to the final sintering process, we’ll explore every step that makes carbide an essential material in industries like construction, manufacturing, and even jewelry.

🔍 Timestamps:
0:03 - Introduction to Carbide
0:55 - Sourcing Raw Materials
1:44 - Reduction of Tungsten Oxide
2:26 - Mixing Tungsten and Carbon
2:42 - Carburization Process
3:20 - Adding Cobalt Binder
3:38 - Pressing and Green Body Formation
4:02 - Sintering: The Final Transformation
4:46 - Quality Control and Finishing
5:33 - Applications of Carbide
6:13 - Innovations in Carbide Production
7:25 - Conclusion: The Importance of Carbide

#Carbide #HowItsMade #TungstenCarbide #CarbideTools #MaterialsScience #Engineering #ManufacturingProcess #IndustrialMaterials #Metalworking #HardMaterials #Sintering #CarbideProduction #Tungsten #CuttingTools #IndustrySecrets #ScienceAndEngineering

[darryltanner]

I work as a precision CNC finish grinder in a carbide manufacturing plant.. we make seal rings for oil/gas, Roll cutters, seal rings for jet engines, and caps for nuclear reactors, high preasure nosels.. etc, etc, etc, etc, etc... all out of tungsten and silicon that consist of many different grades of material

[bobmac]

I worked for a major carbide insert tooling manufacturer. We sold pressed carbide inserts for milling, turning, biting and threading. Inserts are pressed into shape. The compounds are held together with a wax substance. In the furnace process the srink about 18% of there original size. They are pressed molded with chip breaker geometry. They also get an edge prep and coating afterwards for additional wear properties.
They are about 90 HrC hardness at that point. Depending on the grade mixture they are for various types of steel applications. There are numerous grades for machining different grades of steels. Cobalt is the binder or glue that holds it all together.
Btw used inserts can be sold and reclaimed. Some manufacturers buy the used ones back.

[rey]

As a machinist, I love tungsten carbide cutting tools! It’s an impressive material

[jadenephrite]

Regarding 7:02, silicon carbide is a very hard material which has a Mohs Hardness of 9.5. It is used as an abrasive which is harder than aluminum oxide which has a Mohs Harness of 9.0. However silicon carbide is not as hard as boron carbide which has a Mohs Hardness of 9.75.

[tonyfletcher]

Excellent video describing the manufacture of carbide. I worked in carbide manufacturing for over 31 years here in the U.S. and Germany. There is a huge market for carbide and only a few places to mine it. Cutting tools, wear parts make up only a small part of it's use.

[everettrhay]

Having cut over a thousand tons of steels, stainless and super alloys for 30 years. I primarily saw carbide destroyed, it was interesting see a in-depth mini doc on its manufacture.

[stewartmcmanus]

I've used TCT tools for decades but didn't have a clue how they came about. Thank you for a fascinating video.

[jscott]

Great video! With carbide becoming more affordable, I've started using inserts on my lathe and HSS has taken a backseat! Thanks for sharing. 😃

[wmbomb]

Back in the day I hauled dozens of loads of 'SLAG' from Kennecott Copper mine smelter on the west side of Salt Lake City Utah to Portland Oregan to be 'FIRED' in their massive rotating kiln, the finished product is Carbide, oh the memories, I still have a couple Justrite Carbide Lamps I still use when the power goes out at night time.

[DavidFMayerPhD]

Titanium carbide is not only a cutting material, but a superb heat conductor. When drilling steel, TiC coating keeps the drill bit cool.

[kisspeteristvan]

Fun fact, it's a 90 years old technology . Many shops used carbide tips during the WWII production . It was presented as a new thing way back in 1938 ish . It was not the same as today, but the material was the same . They didn't have molded chip breakers and coatings .

Now we made the some new things such as the PCD and CBN cutting tool materials, but they have no chace compared to the normal carbide (due to cost).
Yet carbide is still regarded as a new revolutionary thing, and many shops let go of the HSS tooling .

[wk]

As a 40 year retired machinist, this was an awesome video.

[MitWoodPlayCreations]

Watching your process is so satisfying. Your attention to detail is next level!🎉

[mario-lznl]

Tungsten carbide is interesting unic material, thanks for your work

[Silvertree-td]

Really enjoy your "History of Simple Things". 😊

[larryb]

Excellent video I use carbide all the time for drills and end mills, and I've always wondered how it was made.. Thanks again

[JC-gwyo]

I work as a machinist and we would be in the stone age without carbide tooling

[EvanTownsend]

Carbide bits work great on a planetary grinder for getting mastic off of concrete floors when removing tile or carpet

[berhanekidane]

Very impressive.The way you instruct enabled me to understand the difference between the exhaustic theory and commercial aplications

[anthonycontarino]

Good to see Stem type youtube programs, an old machinist