How to Recognize Carbide

Carbide is a compound that is formed from carbon and another metal, typically tungsten, although there are many types of carbides, all with slightly different properties. Carbide is noted for its strength and durability and is often used in parts for tools. Because it is designed for durability, carbide has some fairly unique characteristics and determining if an item is made from carbide is not very difficult. Learning to distinguish carbide from other materials can be a valuable skill, as recycling carbide is fairly profitable. 

Instructions

1.Hold a magnet to the item you are examining. If the magnet is attracted to it, the item is not carbide, it is iron or steel. However, sometimes carbide is used as a tip for an item, particularly saw blades, so this test is sometimes misleading.

2.Pick up the item and "heft" it. Carbide is very dense, and a carbide object will feel very heavy relative to its size. If you have a piece of steel that is a similar size to the object you are inspecting, the item will weigh about twice as much as the steel if it is carbide. This is the most conclusive test that does not risk damaging the item you are examining.

3.Scratch the item with a steel nail. The Mohs hardness scale is a method of measuring the hardness of different materials. Steel has a Mohs hardness that ranges between 5 and 8.5. Carbide will range between 8 and 9, depending upon the exact alloy that the carbide is made from. Typically, carbide will scratch steel and will not be scratched by steel. Carbide will scratch glass as well, as another way to test its hardness.

4.Examine the item. Carbide does not corrode under normal conditions and does not rust. Seeing either of these indicates that the item is made from some other metal.

5.Put the item to a grinder and watch the sparks. Sparks from carbide are short and dark red, and are very distinctive to carbide. This is a fairly definitive test, but is somewhat more dangerous than other methods of identification and can damage the item.

How Tungsten Carbide is Made

What Is Tungsten Carbide?
Tungsten is a heavy, gray metal with bluish overtones. When mixed with black carbon, tungsten carbide is created.
General Process
The compound is made by heating pulverized tungsten with black carbon, when hydrogen is present. Temperatures range from 2,550 to 2,900 degrees F or 1,400 to 1,600 degrees C. A common method for making the compound was developed in the 1920s in Germany and involves mixing powered tungsten carbide with cobalt. This mixture is then made into the required shape and heated to 2,550 to 2,900 degrees F or 1,400 to 1,600 degrees C. This heat melts the tungsten carbide partially, working as a cement. These tungsten carbide-cobalt creations are known by the names Carboloy and hardmetal.
Another Process
The tungsten and carbon is made into a powder using a pulverizer. The materials are then placed into a crucible and heated using an arc of electricity. The two materials then combine creating the tungsten carbide.
Uses of Tungsten Carbide
A gray, inorganic material, tungsten carbide functions as a hardener in armor-piercing projectiles, the sharp edges of drills and saws, and cast iron. Besides industrial uses, it is also used to create jewelry due to its hardness and deduced risk of allergic reactions among those with sensitive skin, among other desirable properties.

Hazards of Tungsten Carbide

The most frequently utilized hard metal in manufacturing today, tungsten carbide, is used to make a wide variety of products, including wedding rings, golf clubs and machinery. Tungsten carbide is favored by manufacturers because it is strong, durable and heat tolerant. It is made primarily of tungsten and cobalt and small amounts of other metals such as nickel. Workers exposed to airborne tungsten particles do not appear to have any adverse health effects, but exposure to airborne cobalt particles can have a serious impact on health.

The Difference in Tungsten Carbide and Cobalt Rings
1.Eye and Skin Irritation
When the eyes and skin are exposed to tungsten carbide, the result is irritation. In addition, repeated exposure can result in allergies to tungsten carbide, as well as to nickel and cobalt.
Respiratory Ailments
Inhalation of tungsten carbide dust can lead to nose, throat and lung irritation. Repeated exposure to tungsten carbide can lead to a range of serious respiratory ailments including asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and hard-metal lung disease.
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Organ Problems
When tungsten carbide is swallowed, it can lead to loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The China Tungsten Industry Association states that "reports outside the [tungsten carbide] industry suggest that ingestion of significant amounts of cobalt has the potential for causing blood, heart and other organ problems."
Reducing Exposure
When working with tungsten carbide, you can reduce your exposure by wearing clothing that covers your skin, including gloves and safety glasses; wearing a respirator or working in a well-ventilated area; cleaning work areas using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or other system that removes small particles from surfaces and the air; and always washing skin that has been exposed to tungsten carbide thoroughly.

The Difference in Tungsten Carbide and Cobalt Rings

Tungstencarbide has become one of the more popular nontraditional rings. Known for its strength and durability, the symbolism of tungsten carbide in wedding rings is undeniable. However, there are a number of rings on the market that are made using cobalt, rather than tungsten carbide, and that can create an entirely different sort of ring.
Tungsten Carbide

Tungsten carbide in its normal form is nothing more than a powder. Both tungsten powder and carbide powder have to be brought together and forged at very high temperatures to create the necessary bond that will result in a tungsten carbide ring. This process can be difficult and expensive, but it yields a high-quality product that will last for a long time.
Cobalt
Many rings that claim to be tungsten carbide are actually cobalt and carbide, or a mixture of tungsten, cobalt and carbide. Cobalt is much easier to form a bond with, and the forging can be done at a lower temperature for less cost.
Effects
There are a lot of downsides that come along with a tungsten carbide ring that has cobalt in it. For one thing, while you wear it, the cobalt in the ring will react with the natural oils produced by your skin. Cobalt rings will change your skin color, and over time they'll develop permanent oxidation spots that you'll never be able to scrub away. The rings might look nice at first, but within a week to a month depending on how much you wear it, the chemical reactions will occur and ruin its look.
Signs
There aren't many ways to tell just by looking at a ring whether or not it's pure tungsten carbide or a tungsten carbide and cobalt combination. The price is one of the most telling features, because rings made with cobalt are usually cheaper in price. The best way to make sure that you have a genuine tungsten carbide ring is to get a guarantee from the manufacturer, so that if your ring does have cobalt in it you can get a replacement at little or no charge.
Finish
Tungsten carbide rings are extremely strong and durable, and the same goes for their "permanent" finish. Pure tungsten carbide rings don't dent, scratch or lose their shine very easily. A tungsten carbide ring with cobalt in it will, however, so if you've bought a tungsten carbide ring that's lost its shine, even after a thorough cleaning, chances are there's cobalt in it.

How to Sharpen a Carbide Saw Blade

While the conventional wisdom surrounding carbide saw blades reserves sharpening for industry professionals, more and more individuals are choosing to touch up and care for their own blades at home. While most starter sets for sharpening can be purchased for $100 to $500, with fully professional kits nearing $5,000 in cost, anyone with a working Dremel tool and diamond paddle hone attachment can learn the basics of finishing and sharpening carbide saw blades.

Instructions

1. Decide on a working area with ample lighting for the cleaning and sharpening of your saw blade. Make sure that the working surface is clear of any dirt, dust or other debris.

2．Fill the basin or other water container with hot water while adding copious amounts of the citrus oil soap. Continue adding soap until the water surface is thick with soapsuds. Submerge each dull carbide saw blade in the basin and let it soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Once dry, carefully lift each blade and scrub out any resins or trapped oils between the blade teeth using a small brass-bristled brush. Repeat for each blade before rinsing the blades in hot water and setting them out to dry.

3. Insert the diamond paddle hone attachment into the nozzle of the Dremel tool and wet the tip in soapy water. Put on your safety gloves and goggles and turn on the Dremel tool at a medium setting. Apply the wetted paddle hone tip to the flat steel sides of your carbide saw blade, re-wetting the tip if sparks occur. Continue finishing the saw faces until both blade surfaces display a uniform sheen and color.

4. Hold the blade vertically in one gloved hand to position the saw blade for sharpening. Re-wet the paddle hone by dipping the tip in soapy water once more before carefully inserting it against the flat "leading" face of one of the carbide teeth. Turn on the Dremel tool to medium setting and apply the wet hone to each face of the carbide teeth, making sure not to round out the sides of the teeth as you work. Gently touch the tip of each tooth with the paddle hone to aid in cutting. Repeat for each of the carbide teeth until the blade has been entirely sharpened with the wet paddle hone.

5. Rinse the completed blade in hot water and let dry before returning it to the saw. Repeat the process for any other carbide saw blades that require sharpening.

How to Clean Tungsten Carbide Rings

Tungsten carbide rings are made from tungsten and carbide powders, resulting in an indestructible, scratch-proof metal. The metal is used to create rings, wedding bands and bracelets. Tungsten is a rare metal that, according to titanium-jewelry.com, is almost 10 times harder than 18-karat gold, five times harder than tool steel and four times harder than titanium. Tungsten carbide rings require little care, although cleaning is required to remove dirt, exposure to chemicals, soap residue and fingerprints.

Instructions

 1．

Combine 1 cup of warm water with ½ tbsp. liquid dish soap in a bowl or cup. Submerge the tungsten carbide ring in the water for five minutes.

2．

Lift the ring above the bowl or cup. Rub a toothbrush or cloth over the ring to gently clean any remaining grime or buildup from the ring.

3．

Rinse the ring in cool water to remove any remaining soap residue.

4．

Rub the ring with a soft or microfiber cloth to dry it and prevent water spots.

Tips & Warnings

Tungsten carbide metal is extremely strong and can be cleaned with cool, warm or hot water. However, it is recommended you clean a tungsten carbide ring with warm water, only because the warm water helps dissolve the liquid dish soap.

Avoid using any jewelry cleaners, cleaning solutions and cleaning products when cleaning Tungsten carbide rings. Chemicals, such as ammonia, bleach and chlorine react poorly with the composition of tungsten, which can damage the ring. Prior to working with any of these chemicals, remove the ring or wear protective rubber gloves. Should your ring come in contact with any of these chemicals, rinse it immediately.

The process of making carbide inserts

A carbide insert is a bit with multiple cutting edges and is useful because it can be replaced once the edges are worn. The process for manufacturing inserts varies somewhat between companies.

1. Tungsten

Carbides are carbon compounds noted for their heat resistance and durability. Tungsten carbide is the variety typically used for tools; this carbide uses another metal, usually cobalt, to cement the carbide powder together to create a usable substance.

2. Molds

Carbide is pressed into a mold to create the basic shape. It is ground at later points in the process to refine this shape and create an edge.

3. Coating

Carbide inserts are often coated with another substance during the manufacturing process to increase the lifespan of the insert. Such coatings are added by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which involves using ionized gases to cause a chemical reaction on the surface of the insert, binding the coating.

4. Variation

Specifics of the manufacturing process vary between companies, as there are many options with the ratios of chemicals, design of the insert and coatings.

How to Sharpen Tungsten Carbide

1. Determine if your tool needs sharpening. One easy way to decide if your tool is becoming dull is to see if it reflects light well. Shine is an indication of wear. You can also gently scrape a fingernail on a blade and see if it shaves off a sliver; if it does not, the blade is dull. Touch is not necessarily a good way to determine if a blade is sharp, as a dull carbide tool may still feel sharp.
2. Find a professional sharpening service. Sharpening carbide is not recommended for non-professionals, as it requires skill and specific sharpening machinery. Imprecise sharpening can ruin a tool, and a professional can restore a blade to like-new condition.
3. If you are interested in learning how to sharpen blades yourself, it is recommended that you locate a teacher.  
4. Carbide tools require diamond for sharpening, due to their hardness. Wet grinding using an abrasive wheel on an automatic grinder is a very precise method of sharpening. It is also possible to sharpen a tool by using a diamond lap, but this is very imprecise and time-consuming.

Mine control in Congo

Mineral wealth has been a driving force in the conflict. The Congolese military and the rebel forces such as the ethnic Tutsi M23 movement have taken over the mines and transportation networks and raked in hundreds of millions of dollars. Villagers, including children, are rounded up and put to work, often in virtual slavery. More than 60 workers were killed in a mine collapse just last week. Rape is widespread, and women and girls are forced into brothels in the mining areas.

Given the scope of the problem, the SEC measure is relatively weak. It would not forbid manufacturers from using minerals from any source; instead it would simply require about 6,000 companies to let consumers know where the minerals originated. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce objects that the sourcing would be prohibitively expensive, but the actions of many companies involved in the trade belie that claim.

Intel Corp. (INTC) deserves particular credit. It has committed to making “conflict-free” microchips by next year, and has led a global effort to audit the smelting plants in the high-tech supply chain that process the minerals (most are in Asia) to discover where the raw materials originate. General Electric Co. (GE), Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) and Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI), among others, have joined in the auditing program and helped create the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade, which works with nongovernmental groups and the U.S. government to promote a Congolese mining industry free of military and rebel control. Apple Inc. (AAPL) was the first corporation to provide a list of the 175 smelters in its supply chain and require suppliers to use audited, conflict-free smelters when possible. (Shame, however, on Mario and Luigi: Nintendo Co. has made no effort toward responsible sourcing, according to the Enough Project, a nongovernmental group that tracks crimes against humanity in Africa.)

These measures have had real success. According to the Enough Project, armed groups’ revenue from tin, tantalum and tungsten is down by 65 percent over two years. Still, much of the material is making its way illegally out of the country. Rwandan mineral exports increased by 62 percent in 2010, although domestic mining production only rose by 22 percent.

Some criticisms of the SEC rule are reasonable. One is that it might hurt the hundreds of thousands of small-scale “artisanal” miners in Congo whose families and communities depend on meager income they can scavenge from the earth. Yet the idea behind the rule and the industry efforts is to clean up the Congolese industry and improve the welfare of workers, not to force manufacturers to look elsewhere. It need not lead to a boycott if companies use due diligence.

 

INFOGRAPHIC: The Truth About Conflict Minerals

The valuable minerals mined in the barbaric conditions of armed conflict are termed as ‘Blood minerals’ or ‘Conflict minerals’. These are prominently found in the Eastern Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter for the illicit trade of these metal-minerals. This phenomenon of mining is a multi-dimensional jeopardy to human race. The profits of conflict minerals are used by the armed forces to raise funds for violence & riots. This trade also provides some rebel groups & slices of national army with a significant amount of money used to buy guns & other weapons.

The four chief minerals mined in this region are 3Ts i.e. Tungsten, Tin & Tantalum and Gold, that mostly reach the electronics industry. They are a common feature of the automobile sector, consumer electronics, sports equipment & jewelery.

As per the statistics of ITRI, more than 50% global tin supply is used in Solders. Also, the U.S Geological Survey estimates that the tantalum capacitors for use in automotive electronics, cell phones & other applications account for over 60% of total use of the metal. The tungsten metal has a huge sphere of use. From heat & water resistance applications to being used as cutting tools, it is profoundly used in the industries. While all of these minerals are of undue importance in our daily lives, perhaps most revered of these all is gold that is globally used as jewelery & as coinage in financial industry & to some extent in aerospace.

The other side of conflict mineral – misery is the extortion of people planted as laborers at the mines. Hired at gun-point, these people are threatened for their lives to work at the mines under the horrendous conditions of horrible tools, tough locations and tons of lifting. Such work conditions are also responsible for human death. According to a sinister fact, the lives lost in the Congo Civil conflict i.e. over 5.4 million are way more than those lost during the U.S Civil War & Vietnam War. Another highlight is that as much as 35% of Congo’s total mineral profits goes to the armed groups & the mine-related revenue of these groups is a whooping 75% of their total revenue.

But to combat this ongoing trade, the government policies have been framed & implemented. The U.S Government’s Dodd-Frank Wall street Reform & Consumer Protection Act (signed in 2010 into law) states in its Section 1502 that it’s mandatory for the American firms to track & audit their raw material supplies to make sure that they are not associating their products to mines ruled by the brutal armed forces.

Out of a total of 12,000 companies affected by the Dodd-Frank Act, as many as 1,200 companies have reported the cases, forming 10% of the target volume. While the Dodd-Frank Act has to its credit the attainment of substantial decline in revenue of militias i.e. by 65%, the major challenge underlying the crisis is that as high as 65% of current trade involves smuggling of the minerals.

Tungsten carbide coatings for extreme abrasion resistance

The oil and gas industry continuously faces dilemmas regarding its operation efficiency. Contractors are more demanding of extreme performance coating materials that offer exceptional performance, reduce plant downtime and increase service intervals - all with constant respect of the environmental constraints.

Deep drilling exploration and oil sand exploitation are two of the more challenging applications which require innovative coating solutions for longer operating times which are under more severe abrasive and corrosive environments and at higher pressures than regular drilling.

Exploitation techniques often requires separation of the water from oil. During operation, huge problems of abrasion occur thus reducing the life of pipes, elbows, pumps, separators, casings, etc.

Downhole tools for drilling are subject to combined stresses such as abrasion, erosion, impact, corrosion and contact pressure. Because their non-sufficient fracture toughness, the traditional 'commodity' tungsten carbide coatings can't withstand all of these stresses simultaneously.

Constant research and development efforts conducted thermal sprayed coatings and hard-faced overlays to become more and more complex with feature enhancements allowing for more severe operating conditions as well as coating life improvement.

The improvement has been achieved with important innovations by alloying proprietary powders with tungsten carbide/metal powders, nano WC/Co, macro WC and/or superfine WC/Co materials. They are mixed with hard and tough metal matrixes which offer exceptional hardness, abrasion/erosion wear resistance and corrosion resistance - and consequently with improved fracture toughness. These grains can be used as powder or converted into electrodes, flexicords and tungsten carbide ropes. These new materials can be sprayed, PTA cladded or brazed with a flame welding torch.

The Hardkarb flexicord or high velocity thermal spray processes allow to produce high abrasion and erosion resistant WC coating with improved fracture toughness. The metal matrix can be chosen from Cobalt, Cobalt-Chrome, Nickel or Ni-Cr-Mo alloys if petrochemical corrosion is present. The usual thickness of these coatings ranges from 0.3mm to 1mm (0.01-in to 0.04-in).

In regards to hard-facing techniques, versus arc welding, the flame welding (brazing) technique is still the best suited technique to avoid decomposition of WC tungsten carbide and allows to produce tungsten carbides welded overlays that contain the lowest content of brittle W2C phases. The usual thickness of these hard-faced overlays ranges from 1.5mm to 1mm (0.06-in to 0.2-in).The brazed overlays combine abrasion resistance, contact pressure resistance as well as rupture toughness in the final coating.

Improving the coating materials would only be the halfway to the objective, if equipment improvements have not been made. Traditional coating equipment provides limited effectiveness because it is primarily intended for external surfaces and not internal ones. New thermal spray equipment is available for applying coatings to internal diameters. Thermal spray equipment is capable of applying internal coatings down to ~ 6 inches with expected lengths of up to 12 feet.

With a large emphasis on coating performance, the thermal spray industry accomplishes innovative solutions and contributes to create and bring new and highly differentiated products to the market in a cost-effective and efficient time frame.

Polymet Launches New Thermal Spray Powder Product Line

Polymet Corporation, a well-known industry leader of hardfacing, welding, and thermal spray wire, introduced thermal spray powder to its successful line of products. Polymet is eager to extend its presence in the thermal spray industry by offering High Velocity Oxy-Fuel thermal spray powder. These HVOF materials will offer high density, low porosity, and high bond strength.

Prior to the addition of powder to the product line, Polymet provided thermal spray materials for wire arc spray and wire flame spray processes. Now, tungsten carbide-based powders for HVOF systems will be joining the successful group of thermal spray products. Tungsten carbides have excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance properties. Polymet will focus on the following four tungsten carbides: WC-12Co, WC-17Co, WC-10Ni, and WC-10Co-4Cr. Each product will be -45/+15 microns in size.

"Through this new product offering, Polymet will be reaching new prospects and finally meeting the needs of existing customers requiring powder in addition to wire," says Pete Humphries, Marketing Manager for Polymet. "This is truly a product that can generate growth in our company," Pete states, "I am very excited to be at the forefront of this new line." Pete will be responsible for heading the thermal spray powder campaign.

Countless applications can be processed with Polymet materials in industries such as aerospace, power generation, automotive, and petrochemical. As an ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturer, Polymet assures the highest levels of quality in their materials.

 

What's the deal with rare earth minerals?

In an earlier statement, the European Union said the challenge mounted with Washington and Tokyo "formally requested dispute settlement consultations with China in the World Trade Organization."

However, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said tougher steps are needed than the dispute resolution requested.

"There are faster ways to assert leverage on China than relying on the WTO, which could take years to resolve the case," Schumer said in a statement that called for U.S. efforts to block Chinese-funded mining projects in the United States as well as World Bank financing for Chinese mining projects.

Beijing defended its approach Tuesday.

"China has worked out its own policy on managing rare earths, which is in line with WTO regulations," Liu Weimin, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a news conference. "Our policies tackle not only the export of rare earth but also its production and exploration."

The United States accuses China of hoarding the valuable minerals for its own use. But China said its restrictions are motivated by environmental concerns.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters Tuesday that the issue is about uniform rules for all, rather than an effort to hurt China.

"We believe that China's rise is a good thing for the Chinese people and for the global community, a good thing for the United States," Carney said. "It is also important that, as China becomes a bigger and bigger economic power, that China play by the same set of rules that other major economic powers play by."

China will have 10 days to respond to the case and must hold talks with the other parties within two months.

The EU statement said the challenge to the WTO targets raw materials including 17 rare earths such as cerium, neodymium and dysprosium, as well as tungsten and molybdenum. The elements and substances are used in high-tech and "green" businesses, as well as in cars, machinery manufacturing, chemicals and steel.

Tungsten is used in lighting technology, in electronics and in automotive, aerospace and medical technologies, the EU statement said. China produces 91% of the world'stungsten.

Molybdenum is a metallic element used for filaments in light bulbs. China produces 36% of the world's molybdenum, according to the EU statement.

Most of the time, rare earths cannot be substituted for without resulting in a redesigned and more costly product, the EU statement said, adding: "Their non-availability can lead to the disruption of whole value chains."

China has gradually tightened export restrictions on the materials through raising export taxes and "drastically reducing the export quota," according to the European Union. In 2010, China reduced the quota by 32% for domestic companies and 54% for foreign-invested companies.

"Because China is a top global producer for these key inputs, its harmful policies artificially increase prices for the inputs outside of China while lowering prices in China," said a Tuesday statement from the U.S. trade representative.

"This price dynamic creates significant advantages for China's producers when competing against U.S. producers -- both in China's market and in other markets around the world," said the U.S. statement. "The improper export restraints also contribute to creating substantial pressure on U.S. and other non-Chinese downstream producers to move their operations, jobs and technologies to China."

The WTO, the body tasked with monitoring trade between nations, will be asked to be a facilitator in talks with China, an Obama administration official said Monday.

"China's restrictions on rare earths and other products violate international trade rules and must be removed," Karel De Gucht, EU trade commissioner, said in a statement. "These measures hurt our producers and consumers in the EU and across the world, including manufacturers."

Despite a recent ruling in a separate dispute over different raw materials, "China has made no attempt to remove the other export restrictions," he said. "This leaves us no choice but to challenge China's export regime again to ensure fair access for our businesses to these materials."

Ron Kirk, the U.S. trade representative, said, "America's workers and manufacturers are being hurt in both established and budding industrial sectors by these policies. China continues to make its export restraints more restrictive, resulting in massive distortions and harmful disruptions in supply chains for these materials throughout the global marketplace."

Concern in the United States over the supply of rare earths resulted in a September hearing on the matter by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

Of particular concern was how vital the minerals are for top-of-the-line weapons, including missile guidance systems, drones and the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

American companies are trying to answer the demand. Molycorp Inc., one of the few producers of rare earth minerals outside China, has urged Congress to do more to confront the problem and encourage research and development. Molycorp has mines in California and Colorado.

In 2010, China temporarily halted shipments of rare earths to Japan, prompting a sharp spike in prices of the minerals.

The EU said it has raised the issue repeatedly with China over the past few years without success. If no solution can be found through the consultation process, the dispute can be transmitted to a WTO panel for a ruling, the European Union said.

Tungsten Carbide Cutter

Tungsten carbide cutters from Chinatungsten Online provide maximal substance removal and virtually vibration-free, smooth operation due to innovative, geometric toothing.

Engineered for use on non-precious metals and model cast alloys, the cutters are particularly suited for techniques requiring efficient substance removal, such as shape corrections and occlusal-surface trimming.

In addition, the cutters facilitate operation in interdental and hard-to-access areas where working space is limited. Easily identified by their golden shanks, laser marks, and distinctive green rings, user-friendly NEX Cutters are gentle to the user’s wrist, facilitating tactile, intuitive operation. With a recommended operation speed of 20,000 rpm, the cutters offer a long service life.

For more information about tungsten carbide cutters,please visit www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn

Tungsten for Military Use

Tungsten are widely applied in military field. Tungsten ball is added to the shotgun to make it powerful.

Tungsten resources are used for a variety of high-speed ammunition, especially armor-piercing. Tungsten resources  are almost its essential ingredients. The picture shows a variety of 25 mm cannon shells.

 

Tungsten is added to mordern tanks to increase armor-piercing capacity.

 

System to price rare earths

China is to set up a national pricing system for rare earth metals within the next month, in addition to its new trading platform, to further regulate the industry and strengthen its control of the resources, essential materials in consumer electronics and other high-tech goods.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Rare Earth Industry Forum in Baotou, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Ma Rongzhang, secretary-general of the China Rare Earth Industry Association, said the association will establish the pricing index with the aim of leveling out price volatility in the market.

The move, still awaiting approval, will also help the country be a stronger competitor in the international market, and play an important part in the sustainability of the sector, although no specific details were given.

The new rare earth trading platform was launched in Baotou.

North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is home to more than half of the world's light rare earth output.

The platform will be operated by the country's top rare earth producer, the Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare-Earth (Group) High-Tech Co, as well as with nine other firms and institutions including the southern giants Xiamen Tungsten Co Ltd and Guangdong Rising Nonferrous Metals Group Co Ltd.

With a total investment of 100 million yuan ($15.7 million), each shareholder invested 10 million yuan and holds a 10 percent stake in the exchange.

Dudley Kingsnorth, a professor in energy and mineral economics at Curtin University in Western Australia, said he is supportive of the idea, and that it will improve transparency and help avoid volatility.

But he added that the supply of heavy rare earths will be the major concern of the industry in the future.

Chen Zhanheng, deputy secretary-general of the association, pointed out that some of China's rare earth products - traded, for instance, inside some southern provinces to avoid tax - might not necessarily be put onto the national trading platform, but that a stabilized price will benefit everyone.

He also suggested China stockpile more heavy rare earths instead of light rare earths, which are considered as being overproduced.

However, Huang Chang-geng, senior vice-president of Tungsten, said he was still unaware of any specific regulations and systems for the fledgling platform.

China produces 90 percent of all rare earths, while it has 23 percent of world resources, but many in the industry consider this as unsustainable.

The most urgent action is required on heavy rare earth supplies, said Alastair Metcalf, chief executive officer of Hastings Rare Metals Ltd in Australia.

He suggested that China secure stock from other countries for its processing plants, particularly Australia.

In July, the World Trade Organization formed a special group to investigate the issue of stockpiles after the European Union, the United States and Japan complained over what they claimed were Chinese export controls.

Rare earth exports this year are expected to drop to around 10,000 tons, much lower than the industry export quota of 31,000 tons.

In the first half of the year China exported no more than 5,000 tons of rare earths, said Ma. Last year, overall exports were 16,900 tons, about 56 percent of the country's export quota.

Ma said that indicates the rare earth export quota is not a barrier to overseas consumers importing rare earths from China.

Rare earth exports, according to statistics by Chinese customs, were 17.83 percent of its total output of 96,900 tons in 2011.

Smuggling is attributed as the main reason for the export fall, in addition to sluggish demand caused by rising prices, sufficient stockpiles from overseas consumers, and reduced market share of the US products, Ma said.

Rare earths, a group of 17 metals, are essential in the manufacture of high-tech products ranging from smartphones and wind turbines to electric car batteries and missiles.

Military's tungsten concerns

The Obama administration case against China's handling of exports of tungsten is not just because of business concerns, it is a national security concern, as well. China's dominant position in the production of tungsten has long-reaching implications for the U.S. Department of Defense. As our Laurie Ure reported back in 2010, there is widespread use of tungsten in defense systems, including precision-guided munitions, lasers, communication systems, radar systems, avionics, night vision equipment, satellites and more.

A coating of yttrium, which can withstand high levels of heat, is used inside jet exhaust systems. Samarium, which is resistant to radiation, is used in magnets inside missiles and other weapons.

A 2011 Pentagon report said that the defense demand is seven percent of the overall global market for the minerals.

 "Faced with increased RE prices and a decrease in China’s export quota, the biggest issue facing domestic RE consumer companies is the need for a stable non-Chinese source for rare earth oxides (REO)," according to the report. "It is essential that a stable non-Chinese source of REO be established so that the U.S. RE supply chain is no longer solely dependent on China’s RE exports."

Kinetic energy penetrator

A kinetic energy penetrator (also known as a KE weapon) is a type of ammunition which, like a bullet, does not contain explosives and uses kinetic energy to penetrate the target.

The term can apply to any type of armor-piercing shot but typically refers to a modern type of armour piercing weapon, the armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), a type of long-rod penetrator (LRP), and not to small arms bullets.

The opposite technique to KE-penetrators uses chemical energy penetrators. There are two types of these shells in use: high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and high explosive squash head (HESH). They have been widely used against armor in the past and still have a role but are less effective against modern composite armour, such as Chobham or Kanchan, as used on main battle tanks today.

The principle of the kinetic energy penetrator is that it uses its kinetic energy, which is a function of mass and velocity, to force its way through armor. If the armor is defeated, the heat and spalling (particle spray) generated by the penetrator going through the armor, and the pressure wave that would develop, would destroy the target.

The modern KE weapon maximizes KE and minimizes the area over which it is delivered by:

• being fired with a very high muzzle velocity
• concentrating the force in a small impact area while still retaining a relatively large mass
• maximizing the mass of whatever (albeit small) volume is occupied by the    projectile—that is, using the densest metals practical, which is one of the reasons depleted uranium is often used.

Why can't tungsten bring great profit for China

China is a large producer of tungsten , and tungsten reserves accounted for about 70 percent of the world's total reserves and the tungsten output accounts for 80% of world production.

Tungsten has  the highest melting point  of all metals. It is known as the "Industrial teeth" and "industrial salt". Tungsten is widely used in the defense industry, aerospace, machinery manufacturing, oil drilling, special steel, new materials, including satellites, launch vehicles and spacecraft are also inseparable from the composition of the tungsten alloy.

As an important strategic resource, tungsten plays an important role in the national economic and national security. In tanks, tungsten alloy is used to make bombs, also used as a composite armor component to improve the thermal strength and temperature capabilities. Tungsten is applied for a variety of high-speed ammunition, especially armor-piercing and tungsten almost is the only option for high-speed armor-piercing bomb core material.

Later, the United States developed depleted uranium (uranium 238) to replace tungsten as armor-piercing material. But it has been criticized by environmental issues. In World War II, due to be cut off from the channels of the Chinese imports of tungsten ore, the Nazi German tanks is seriously lack of big-power tungsten penetrators, including Tiger tanks and other weapons are greatly reduced firepower.

Although China has the world's largest tungsten reserve, Due to the bad skill of excavating tungsten, China has wasted a lot of tungsten. In addition, lots of tungsten is exported for profit. So domestic turnstile has been exhausted and the wolframite resources are reducing quickly.

At present, China's tungsten reserve, production, trade and consumption volume rank first in the world. However, the rank in the world didn’t just bring pride. The import price is seven times of export price. In 2003, China exported 26,000 tons of semi-finished products of tungsten, with exports of $ 220 million accounted for 2/3 of the total exports of primary products. During the same period, China's exports bulb 6.6 billion, spent about 230 tons of tungsten, exports $ 200 million.

In the same year, the price of per ton tungsten imported is more than 199,000 US dollars, while the export price is $ 28,000, only 1/7 of the import price. China exported 2943 tons of tungsten products to the United States, accounting for 1/3 of the U.S. tungsten supply and exports of $ 25.6 million. In the same period, the sales revenue of the United States Kennametal reached $ 2 billion in the processing of tungsten carbide products imported. China's tungsten industry sales revenue is 10 billion yuan. Export-oriented primary product is the Achilles heel of many industries in China's foreign trade. Valuable resource is depleting, but tungsten didn’t bring lots of profit for China.  

Wolf Minerals secures additional funding for tungsten and tin project

Wolf Minerals says it has continued to make strong progress in its development plans for the Hemerdon tungsten and tin project.

It has completed the first major piece of infrastructure work at the project, with the completion of the project's link road. Construction of the link road begun in the first quarter and it was officially opened last month.

The company is now focused on finalising the funding requirements to bring Hemerdon on-line and to date has secured credit approval for £55m in senior debt finance for the project and have signed a heads of terms for an offtake agreement for the project's tungsten production, which also includes an additional £20m funding facility.

New jobs created yet many still without work

Steve Blitz, chief economist at investment research firm ITG in New York advised others to look on the bright side. The U.S. unemployment rate held above 8 percent for the 41st consecutive month.

"I'd call this a soft 163," Blitz said. "If you want to take from this the notion that the economy is not heading to a recession or something more ominous, that's fine. But if you want to take from this the idea that the economy is about to accelerate, I think that would be a big mistake."

The government's monthly jobs report comes from two separate surveys: one that looks at employer payrolls, and the other which questions households. Those two reports went in opposite directions in July, confusing the overall reading on the job market.

The report showed that the actual amount of Americans working dropped by 195,000, with the net job gain resulting primarily from seasonal adjustments in the establishment survey.

The household survey also showed 150,000 fewer Americans in the workforce. Private payrolls added 172,000 positions, while government subtracted 9,000.

Auto factories also hired 12,800 workers, but that improvement could be misleading given seasonal adjustments that may have artificially inflated the number, economists said.
"While the monthly gain is still relatively small by historical standards, it might help spark somewhat higher consumer optimism and spending," Kathy Bostjancic, director of macroeconomic analysis at The Conference Board, said in response to the recent report.

At this point, all economic reports and particularly the jobless number are viewed through the prism of how they might affect Federal Reserve action.

Chairman Ben Bernanke may add something more substantial to the conversation during the annual summit in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, later this month. The central bank's policy committee meets again in September.

"If the Fed is sitting there wondering what to do, this doesn't tell them they don't have to do anything," Blitz said. "If anything, the numbers are going to get weaker than the 163 next month."

Part of the positive market reaction, can be attributed to anticipation of more Fed intervention.

"The bottom line is that the employment report shows a strong headline reading but as we believe that most people, and importantly the (Fed), will resort to digging beneath the headlines to focus on the enormous uphill struggle facing the labor market," Andrew Wilkinson, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak in New York says.

"The report should do little to change expectations for a further move in September from the Fed and so one can understand why equities are happy to advance," he added.