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Uses for Large Pieces of Tungsten Carbide

Tungsten carbide is a compound comprising tungsten and carbon; in nature, it is found as a soft, gray powder. For industrial applications, it is pressed and formed into an extremely strong metal that has found use in areas such as ordnance, drill bits, jewelry and tools. While tungsten carbide is found in such tiny places as the ball of a ballpoint pen or the tip of a drill bit, it also has uses in larger applications.

Armor-Piercing Ammunition
- Tungsten carbide first made its appearance in weaponry in tank-destroying bombs designed for the German Luftwaffe, focusing on Soviet tanks in World War II. Because tungsten carbide is so much harder than steel and is quite dense, it can effectively break through armor. It can be shaped like an arrow and placed within a cylinder that falls away after firing or a used as a core surrounded by a softer metal, such as copper.
Nuclear Experiments
- Tungsten carbide can reflect neutrons; this made it a useful substance in investigating nuclear chain reactions. In the race to build the first atomic bomb, it was one of the crucial elements in testing at the Los Alamos National Laboratories in New Mexico.
Machining Applications
- Because it is harder and denser than other metals, tungsten carbide makes an excellent material for cutters designed to work with stainless steel or carbon steel, and it has extremely good durability even at high temperatures. Drills and blades made of tungsten carbide are known to produce an optimal finish in a shorter amount of time than those made of other metals.
Sports Applications
- Tungsten carbide is a popular material in items that need to grab a surface for a secure hold, such as the points at the end of hiking poles or ski polls. Tungsten carbide spikes are also used in snowmobile drive tracks, and tungsten carbide studs are available for bicycle tires designed to be used on ice.

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