History and Discovery of Tungsten Carbide

Tungsten carbide was accidentally discovered in 1893 by chemists William H.N. Hull and Edgar Everhart while they were experimenting with tungsten metal and carbon. They observed that when tungsten and carbon are heated together at high temperatures, they combine to form an extremely hard crystalline compound. Initial investigations showed that this new material was much harder than any other known at the time. It soon attracted interest from tool manufacturers seeking new materials for cutting and wear application. Over the following decades, advances were made in synthesizing tungsten carbide through powder metallurgy techniques, allowing for commercial production and a wide range of applications.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Tungsten Carbide, which has the chemical formula WC, is a lustrous grey, brown or black crystalline solid. It has a hexagonal crystal structure and molecular weight of approximately 192.84 g/mol. Chemically, tungsten carbide is very stable and resistant to corrosion from acids, bases and solvents. However, it reacts with oxidizing agents like hydrogen peroxide. Physically, WC is extraordinarily hard - typically rating between 8.5 and 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it about 4-6 times harder than tool steels. It also has a high melting point of around 2870°C. Despite its hardness, tungsten carbide possesses some ductility, allowing it to be formed into complex shapes through powder metallurgy techniques.

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