MATERIAL COMPARISON
Tungsten metal and WC-based hardmetal are different material descriptions.
The word tungsten alone is not enough to identify a requested part. Confirm whether the drawing specifies metallic tungsten or a cemented-carbide grade before comparing quotations.
What makes cemented carbide different?
CERATIZIT describes cemented carbide as a hard phase with a metallic binder, commonly WC and cobalt; binder content and carbide grain size influence its properties.
CERATIZIT: cemented carbide explained (English)
Material identity
Retain the complete designation from the drawing. W and a WC-based grade must not become the same purchasing description simply because both contain tungsten.
Grade-specific comparison
For hardmetal, request the actual grade reference and its property sheet. Do not assign one generic hardness or density to every cemented-carbide product.
The finished part
Identify whether the offer covers a blank or a finished component. Compare the same geometry and intended function before discussing an alternative material.
A practical check before ordering
- Confirm whether the requested material is metallic tungsten or cemented carbide.
- Preserve the exact material or grade designation in the inquiry and quotation.
- For a proposed substitution, compare product-specific evidence against the actual component requirements.
- Obtain approval from the person responsible for the design; a similar name is not proof of equivalence.
This page provides no automatic grade conversion or machining parameters and does not approve interchangeability. It is a procurement clarification, not a material qualification.
Continue with the material pages
Source reviewed: 14 September 2026. Original procurement guidance by MNK-G.S.A.