Basic Carbide has been in business since 1981 producing quality tungsten carbide preforms. We produce a wide range of custom-made products in a variety of sizes and shapes. Our products are used in industries such as metal production, forming processes, paper, wood products, material handling, mining, energy production, automotive, and transportation. Recently, Basic Carbide has expanded production capability with the opening of our new nickel plant. Our offices have been relocated to the nickel plant to allow further expansion of the cobalt plant. To learn more about specific aspects of our company and our product, select the corresponding link below.
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Tungsten carbide, or WC, has a number of unique and impressive characteristics, the most significant being the ability to resist abrasion. It is the hardest metal known to man. Sintered and finished carbide has a combination of compressive strength, extreme hot hardness at high temperatures, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion and thermal shock.
Tungsten carbide has a compressive strength greater than any other metal or alloy and is three times more rigid than steel. Abrasion resistance is up to 100 times greater than steel. Thermal expansion is less than one-half that of steel, and tungsten carbide resists thermal shock and oxidation temeratures up to 1200°F (648.89°C). Tungsten carbide compositions have exceptional resistance to galling and welding at the surface and can withstand cryogenic temperatures to -453°F (-269.44°C) while retaining their toughness and abrasive qualities. Since carbides are nearly chemically inert, they are ideally suited for wear applications in corrosive environments.
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The production process begins with purchased tungsten carbide powders in a variety of grain sizes ranging from super-submicron to submicron to fine to coarse. The powder is then made into graded powder by adding various percentages of binder material, such as cobalt or nickel, and ball milling or attritor milling it into proper distribution. A small amount of wax is added during milling to hold the material together in its unsintered or "green" state. This wax is removed during the sintering process.
Following quality-control testing of the milled material, the graded powder is isostatically pressed into billets. These are then shaped by either state-of-the-art computer-controlled mills, CNC cut-off machines, CNC lathes, and grinders, to produce the final configuration. During the shaping process, excess material is seperated by grade and recycled to reduce cost and eliminate waste.
The sintering process occurs when the parts are heated in a vacuum furnace at temperatures up to 2600°F (1426.67°C). At this point, the parts shrink approximately 20% and can now only be machined by diamond-grit wheels or EDM. Numerous furnaces allow different heat cycles for different grades; this promotes optimum physical properties for each grade.
After sintering, all parts are sent through our rigorous quality-control process. Parts are examined under a microscope to ensure consistent quality, and then the parts are dimensionally inspected to ensure they meet customer specifications.
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At Basic Carbide, all steps in the manufacturing process are subjected to rigid quality control checks. Close attention to detail results in consistent product quality. Chemical analysis and grain size are checked to assure that all products conform to our standards. From raw materials entering the plant, to finished product being shipped, Basic Carbide products are checked metallurgically for physical properties such as hardness, transverse rupture strength, magnetic saturation, and density. Fractured and polished surfaces are examined micrographically, and all parts are dimensionally checked.
In a relatively short time, Basic Carbide has developed a reputation for quality preform products to exact customer specifications at competitive prices with fast delivery.
Call us today to see how Basic Carbide can work for you.
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BC-12C
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Since 1984, Basic Carbide has guaranteed grade BC-12C against cracking. The experience and expertise developed working with diemakers and WEDM machine producers has resulted in providing customers with a carbide grade unsurpassed in reliability and performance. Basic Carbide's pledge is more than a guarantee. The guaranteed-process for WEDM consists of a special sintering process along with an added proprietary stress-relieving sintering cycle. For added certainty, every part is ground and ultrasonically inspected before shipment. Basic Carbide's professional staff works with customers to eliminate problems and to assist in designing preforms. When wire cutting tungsten carbide, use the guaranteed proven leader, Basic Carbide.
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