Q:What is cemented carbide ?

 A:Cemented carbide is a hard material used in machining tough materials such as carbon steel or

stainless, as well as in situations where other tools would wear away, such as high-quantity

production runs. Most of the time, carbide will leave a better finish on the part, and allow faster

machining. Carbide tools can also withstand higher temperatures than standard high speed steel tools.

Q: Which grade characteristics affect the properties of cemented carbide? 

A: The properties of cemented carbides are affected by four primary material characteristics,

namely, (i) the average grain size of the carbide phase, (ii) the weight or volume percent of the

binder alloy present, (iii) the composition of the carbide phases, and (iv) the composition of the

binder alloy. In general, hardness increases (and fracture toughness decreases) as the average hard

phase grain size decreases and/or the weight or volume fraction of the binder decreases.

The strength increases as the average grain size of hard phase decreases at any given binder fraction.

Corrosion resistance increases as Ni and/or Cr is substituted for Co in the binder alloy.