Tungsten Carbide (WC)
Ceramic compound of tungsten and carbon. Main component of carbide for cutting tools.
WC (tungsten carbide) has a hardness close to that of diamond (~2200 HV) and a melting point of 2870°C. Alone it is brittle; cemented with cobalt it becomes metal duro, the most used material in steel inserts and drills.
Origin
WC is produced from wolframite or scheelite ore. Refining is concentrated in a few countries, creating strategic dependency for the global industry.