Tungsten iron powder use depth analysis: tungsten carbide and high-tech field of key materials（1）

Tungsten iron powder use depth analysis: tungsten carbide and high-tech field of key materials

Main application areas of tungsten iron powder

    A.Applications in the metallurgical industry

Tungsten iron powder is widely used in the metallurgical industry, mainly reflected in the production of iron and steel alloys, the manufacture of special steel and superhard materials, the strengthening of superalloys and the development of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials. These applications occupy a core position in modern industrial production, tungsten iron powder with its excellent physical and chemical properties, in different metallurgical fields show unique advantages.

1. Steel alloy production

The application of tungsten iron powder in the production of iron and steel alloys must first start from the characteristics of tungsten itself. Tungsten has an extremely high melting point (3422°C) and density (19.25 g/cm³), which enable it to significantly improve the hardness, strength and wear resistance of the material in iron and steel alloys. As the main raw material of tungsten alloying, iron tungsten powder can be customized to improve the steel properties in the process of steelmaking by controlling the precise addition amount.

In the production of tool steel and high-speed steel, the role of tungsten iron powder is particularly important. This type of steel needs to maintain extremely high hardness at high temperatures to meet the manufacturing requirements of cutting tools, drills and molds. Tungsten iron powder through the synergistic effect with other alloying elements (such as chromium, vanadium, molybdenum), so that the steel has excellent red hardness, that is, it can still maintain high hardness under high temperature conditions. This characteristic makes the tool containing tungsten alloy have a longer life and higher machining accuracy in high-speed cutting.

2. Manufacture of special steel and superhard materials

The application of tungsten iron powder in the manufacture of special steel and superhard materials has greatly promoted the use of these materials in industry. Specialty steels refer to those with special properties and are usually used in environments requiring high wear resistance, corrosion resistance and high strength, such as aerospace, nuclear industry and petrochemical industries. The addition of tungsten iron powder to these steels greatly improves the durability and safety of the material. For example, tungsten-containing stainless steel shows excellent corrosion resistance in corrosive environments, while tungsten-containing heat-resistant steel shows excellent heat resistance in high-temperature equipment.

The manufacture of superhard materials such as cemented carbide is also inseparable from tungsten iron powder. Cemented carbide is based on tungsten carbide, by combining tungsten iron powder with carbide, plus a small amount of binder (such as cobalt), through the powder metallurgy process. This material has extremely high hardness and excellent wear resistance, and is widely used in machining tools, mine drills and wear parts. The use of tungsten iron powder in these superhard materials directly affects the hardness, strength and toughness of the product, and then determines its performance in industrial applications.

3. The role and advantages in superalloy

Superalloy refers to alloy materials that can maintain good mechanical properties and oxidation resistance at high temperatures, and tungsten iron powder is particularly widely used in superalloys. Tungsten's high melting point and high strength make it an ideal addition to superalloys. By adding tungsten iron powder to superalloys, the high temperature strength and creep resistance of the alloy can be significantly improved, so that it can still maintain stable physical properties in extreme high temperature environments.

The superalloys used in high temperature equipment such as aircraft engines and gas turbines often need to operate for a long time in a high temperature environment above 1500°C, and the role of tungsten iron powder in them cannot be ignored. Tungsten iron powder extends the service life of the equipment by improving the high temperature oxidation resistance and creep strength of the alloy, and improves the safety and reliability of the equipment. For example, turbine blade materials often need to withstand extreme temperatures and stresses, and tungsten iron powder reinforced superalloys can meet these harsh conditions.

4. The application of tungsten iron powder in wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials

In the production of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials, tungsten iron powder plays a vital role. These materials are widely used in mining, oil drilling, chemical equipment and other fields that have high requirements for wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The addition of tungsten iron powder can significantly improve the hardness and wear resistance of the material, so that it can still maintain excellent performance in extreme environments.

For example, tungsten iron powder reinforced alloy materials are widely used in mining machinery, such as the hammer head of the crusher, jaw plate, etc. These parts need to work under high strength wear conditions, and the high hardness of tungsten materials can effectively extend its service life and reduce the downtime of the equipment. In oil and gas extraction, tungsten iron powder is used to manufacture corrosion-resistant pipe, valve and pump components that can be used in corrosive media for a long time, reducing equipment maintenance costs.

     B.Application of tungsten iron powder in cemented carbide

Due to its excellent hardness and wear resistance, cemented carbide is widely used in cutting tools, drills and abrasives. As the core raw material of cemented carbide, tungsten iron powder plays a key role in the preparation, performance improvement and product application of the alloy.

1. Composition and preparation process of cemented carbide

Tungsten carbide is the main component of tungsten carbide (WC), and tungsten iron powder is the basic material for the preparation of tungsten carbide. In the production process of cemented carbide, tungsten iron powder is first reduced and reacted with carbon to form tungsten carbide powder, and then sintered by powder metallurgy process through mixing with the binder (metal cobalt). In this process, the purity and granularity of tungsten iron powder directly affect the quality of the final alloy, which determines the hardness, strength and toughness of the cemented carbide.

During the preparation process, the particle size and distribution of tungsten iron powder need to be precisely controlled to ensure the densification and uniformity of the final alloy. Too large or uneven distribution of particles can lead to defects inside the alloy, which affects its wear resistance and toughness. With the continuous progress of preparation technology, the quality of tungsten iron powder is also constantly improving, which provides a solid foundation for the optimization of cemented carbide properties.

2. The function and role of tungsten iron powder in cemented carbide

The main function of tungsten iron powder in cemented carbide is to provide tungsten carbide as a matrix material, giving the alloy ultra-high hardness and wear resistance. In addition, the iron component of tungsten iron powder also reacts with other alloying elements during the sintering process, which enhances the toughness and impact resistance of the alloy. Therefore, tungsten iron powder is not only the hardness source of cemented carbide, but also optimizes the overall mechanical properties of the alloy through chemical reactions.

In practical applications, tungsten carbide tools need to be used under extreme conditions such as high-speed cutting and deep hole drilling, and tungsten iron powder ensures that the tools can maintain good cutting performance and long service life under these conditions. Tungsten iron powder also improves the oxidation resistance of the alloy, so that the cemented carbide can work stably in a high temperature environment for a long time to meet the needs of high-precision processing fields such as aerospace and automobile manufacturing.

3. Effect of tungsten iron powder on properties of cemented carbide

The quality and process control of tungsten iron powder have a decisive influence on the final properties of cemented carbide. First of all, the particle size of tungsten iron powder directly affects the hardness and wear resistance of the alloy. The fine, uniform particles can form a dense microstructure during the sintering process, thereby improving the overall strength and toughness of the alloy. Secondly, the purity of tungsten iron powder is also crucial to the performance of cemented carbide. High purity tungsten iron powder can reduce the damage of impurities to alloy grain boundaries and avoid the embrittlement and failure of alloy under high temperature and pressure conditions.

In practical applications, the performance of tungsten carbide prepared by high quality tungsten iron powder is particularly outstanding in machining. Not only do they offer extremely high cutting speeds and accuracy, they also significantly extend tool life and reduce replacement and maintenance costs. Typical cemented carbide products such as high-speed cutting tools, precision molds, etc., rely on the high-quality characteristics of tungsten iron powder to achieve excellent processing performance.

4. Case analysis of typical cemented carbide products

Carbide products are widely used in various fields of industrial manufacturing, tungsten iron powder as the core raw material of carbide cutting tools and drills are the most representative products. Carbide cutting tools based on tungsten iron powder occupy an important position in automobile manufacturing, aerospace and mold manufacturing. Their high hardness and wear resistance allow them to complete complex machining tasks at higher cutting speeds and longer service lives, resulting in significantly higher production efficiency.

In oil and gas extraction, carbide bits are another typical application. The drill bit made of tungsten iron powder can drill at high speeds in extremely hard rock formations, reducing drilling time and operating costs. In addition, wear-resistant parts made of tungsten iron powder have also been widely used in mining machinery, ensuring the long-term stable operation of equipment under high strength conditions.