Cemented tungsten carbide is valued for hardness and wear resistance, but its capabilities depend on the grade and part design. It is not pure tungsten, and a single property value should not be applied to every carbide component.
Does tungsten carbide conduct electricity?
Common WC-Co cemented carbides are electrically conductive. That does not make them equivalent to copper conductors or establish suitability for an electrical application. Resistivity varies with the material system and conditions; use the actual grade data for electrical design. See Hyperion’s electrical and magnetic property overview.
One property table, with the missing context included
| Property | Practical meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness and wear | Resistance to indentation and material loss | Grade, test method and actual wear mechanism |
| Toughness and strength | Ability to tolerate the relevant load and damage | Support, load direction, geometry and test basis |
| Density | Mass per unit volume | Density for the actual grade, not pure tungsten |
| Electrical behavior | Common WC-Co grades are conductive | Grade-specific resistivity and application conditions |
| Magnetic response | Binder-containing grades can show a magnetic response | Material system and the purpose of the measurement |
| Thermal behavior | Heat affects performance and dimensional relationships | Temperature, mating materials and grade data |
| Corrosion behavior | Binder and environment influence resistance | Fluid chemistry, concentration and temperature |
When a material property is not enough
A hard grade may resist abrasive wear but still chip at an unsupported edge. A dimensionally acceptable component may have the wrong finish for a sliding contact. A material with suitable bulk properties may be impractical to produce in the requested geometry. Review the carbide machining and finishing route alongside the material choice.
Compare data without mixing categories
Use the actual grade information, including units and test methods. HRA and Vickers are not labels to interchange without an appropriate basis. A bending test, compressive test and fracture-toughness test describe different behavior. Avoid selecting a component from a general stronger-than-steel claim.
Turn capability into an application request
Identify what the current part does, what it contacts and how it fails. Include the drawing, service interval, operating temperature, lubrication or cleaning environment, and required inspection. For material replacement, keep a baseline before trialing a candidate and record the resulting performance rather than assuming a guaranteed wear-life improvement.
Use the grade-selection workflow to connect the application evidence with a documented material choice.
For load terminology, the carbide strength guide distinguishes hardness, compression, bending and fracture toughness.
Send the drawing, application and quantity through the RFQ form when the requirements are ready for review.
Product questions? Contact Michael Douglas, Extramet Products product expert and Sales and Marketing contact.