Tungsten Carbide Prices

Tungsten Carbide Prices

According to recent reports, the price of tungsten carbide has been fluctuating significantly. The metal, highly valued for its hardness and resistance, has seen price surges due to various factors including supply constraints from major producers like China (Learn more).

The Tungsten Carbide Mess

China dominates the global supply of tungsten ore. Many years ago, China sold this ore at very low prices, causing mines in other parts of the world to shut down. As the primary supplier, China then began gradually increasing the price, leading to international concerns. When the U.S. protested these price increases, China limited its supply further, causing the U.S. to retreat.

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In recent years, China transitioned from merely selling raw ore to selling finished products like tools. The cost of raw material from China surged from $50 per ton to $460 per ton at its peak, although the current price stands at $420 per ton. This mirrors trends seen in metals like silver.

There has been considerable consolidation within the carbide industry. Companies like Ceratizit and Kennametal emerged from numerous mergers and acquisitions, lowering competitive pressure on prices.

Market Dynamics

Competitive Landscape

Carbide parts, especially those used in woodworking like saw tips and router inserts, have historically been less profitable. Higher profits are generally seen in coated inserts and other sectors like metal machining and mining, leading companies to focus less on the woodworking market.

Quality vs. Cost

While cheaper carbide can be sourced from overseas suppliers, quality and delivery times can fluctuate. Waiting 4 to 6 weeks for a substandard shipment greatly diminishes one's willingness to reorder from these suppliers.

Our Approach

Carbide Processors offers carbide, braze alloy, and flux. Due to high-volume purchases, we secure great prices and pass these savings on with a small markup. We are a primary supplier for smaller shops and a secondary supplier for medium-sized shops, using over 26 suppliers to maintain low prices and high quality. Our minimum order is 100 parts.

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Tungsten Price, Occurrence, Extraction, and Use

Elements and Properties

Tungsten, with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74, is known for its high density and extreme melting and boiling points. Historically, it has been most commonly used as a filament in incandescent lamps.

Historical Context

Georgius Agricola first described a mineral found in Saxon tin ores in the 16th century, which made tin extraction difficult. This mineral, later identified as tungsten, got its name from the German word "Wolfram". The mineral was initially used in form of "wolf’s foam" or "lupi spumum" due to its properties.

Global Occurrence

Tungsten's occurrence in the Earth's crust is rare, estimated at 0.0064% by weight. Major deposits can be found in countries like China, Peru, the USA, Korea, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Austria, and Portugal. China remains the largest producer, accounting for over 80% of global production.

Production and Extraction

Global production of pure tungsten was estimated at 73,300 tons, with China as the leading producer. Other significant producers include Russia, Canada, Austria, and Portugal. Tungsten ore in Austria was first discovered in the mid-20th century and significant deposits were later found in the Felbertal region.

Extraction Process

Extracting tungsten typically involves using an ammoniacal solution to create ammonium paratungstate (APW), which is then converted into tungsten trioxide at high temperatures. Tungsten trioxide is further reduced to steel-gray tungsten using a hydrogen atmosphere.

Applications

The primary use of tungsten is in lighting equipment due to its high melting point. It's also important in alloying metals, particularly in tool steels, and various industries including medical, chemical, and even sports for high-quality equipment.

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Tungsten carbide is also used in nuclear weapons and material processing. Tungstates find use in making fabrics flame-retardant, and tungsten colors are used in ceramics and porcelain.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Physical Properties

Tungsten is a white, shiny metal with high hardness, density, and tensile strength. Its density is almost equivalent to gold, and it boasts the second highest melting point amongst chemical elements.

Chemical Properties

It's a resistant metal that doesn’t react with hydrofluoric acid or aqua regia at room temperature but dissolves in hydrofluoric and nitric acid mixtures.

Isotopes

Tungsten has 33 isotopes and five isomers. In nature, five isotopes of tungsten occur, with the most common being 184W. While previously thought stable, it has been proven that 180W undergoes alpha decay.

Other Uses

The high melting point of tungsten makes it suitable for use in lighting. Its density also makes it useful for balance weights and radiation shielding. Because tungsten carbide projectiles are more common than those made from depleted uranium, they are used in military applications for armor-piercing ammunition.

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