Physical Properties
Chemical formula: WC. Wolfram Carbide, also known as Wolfram Carbide, is a black hexagonal crystal with a metallic luster and a hardness similar to that of diamond. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat. Its melting point is 2870°C, boiling point is 6000°C, and relative density is 15.63 (at 18°C).
Chemical Properties
Tungsten carbide is insoluble in water, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid, but readily soluble in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid. Pure tungsten carbide is brittle, but its brittleness can be reduced by adding small amounts of metals such as titanium and cobalt. Tungsten carbide used as steel cutting tools often incorporates titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, or mixtures thereof to enhance its anti-knock properties. Tungsten carbide is chemically stable. In tungsten carbide, carbon atoms embed themselves into the gaps between the tungsten metal lattice without disrupting the original metal lattice, forming an interstitial solid solution, hence the name interstitial (or intercalation) compound.
