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Non-Ferrous Tungsten
Tungsten Carbide
Grade: VariousVery High Tier
Carbide inserts, drill bits, cutting tools
Market Price EstimateUpdated Daily
$15,850/ MT
+1250 (8.6%)vs yesterday
Verified specifications & market data
Chemical Composition
Elemental breakdown by percentage weight.
Standard composition limits
Values represent maximum allowed percentage unless otherwise noted.
Physical Properties
Material form, density, and contamination specifications.
Post-consumer tungsten carbide tooling scrap; used metal-cutting inserts (CNC/machining operations), drill bits, end mills, boring bars, threading tools; industrial manufacturing wear debris; machining shop waste; established hard-material recycling infrastructure; tungsten and cobalt dual-recovery commodity; ultra-high intrinsic material value
Acceptable Inclusions
- Tungsten carbide 70-90% (carbide composite)
- Cobalt 5-15% (binder metal; high value)
- Carbon 6-12% (ceramic stoichiometry)
- Iron <2% (tool steel substrate/debris)
- Nickel <5% (binder alternative)
- Tantalum carbide <5% (specialty additive)
- Machining fluid residue <2% (post-cleaning)
- Light oxidation acceptable
Prohibited Materials
- Tungsten carbide <70% (below specification)
- Cobalt <5% (insufficient binder)
- Iron >2% (excessive ferrous contamination)
- Non-carbide materials (aluminum inserts, ceramics prohibited)
- Unknown tool composition
- Severely damaged/cracked inserts (structural integrity compromise)
- Mixed tool types incompatible for recycling
Quality Assurance
Testing protocols, sampling methods, and acceptance criteria.
Sampling Protocol
frequencyStratified random sampling from tool type, geometry; tool-type diversity assessment
maximumQuantity200-300 individual samples per shipment
minimumQuantity1-3 tonnes or 50-150 tool samples minimum
percentage15-25% of lot
stratificationSample across tool types; geometries; wear pattern assessment; dual-metal composition variation
Acceptance Limits
all Criteria Must PassMaterial must be carbide 70-90%; cobalt 5-15%; tool integrity acceptable; dual-metal recovery protocol
carbide Content70-90%
carbon ContentC 6-12%
cobalt ContentCo 5-15%
coolant LevelResidue <2%; cleaning technically feasible
dual Metal RecoveryTungsten and cobalt separation ; precious metal recovery
iron LimitFe <2%
material IdentityConfirmed as carbide tools
tool IntegrityStructurally sound; no critical cracks; recycling-safe condition
Weight Tolerance
measurementVerified by certified scale; weight certificate mandatory for specialty carbide shipment
variance±2% from purchase order weight
Required Test Methods
Visual Inspection & Carbide Tool Confirmation
CRITICAL
Purpose
- confirm used carbide tools (NOT ceramic inserts
- NOT high-speed steel)
- verify tool types/geometry
- assess wear patterns characteristic
- verify dual-metal recovery feasibility
Acceptance Criteria
- Carbide tool type unmistakable
- gray metallic carbide appearance characteristic
- used/worn condition evident
- tool geometry identifiable
- dual-metal recovery feasible
Procedure
- 100% visual inspection
- verify carbide material characteristics
- identify tool type/geometry
- assess wear patterns (flank wear, crater wear typical)
- confirm carbide authenticity
- assess recovery compatibility
Tool Type & Geometry Categorization
Purpose
- Classify tool types/geometries
- optimize dual-metal separation protocols
- assess carbide/cobalt ratio variation
Acceptance Criteria
- Tool types classified (inserts/drills/end mills)
- geometry documented
- carbide/cobalt variation assessed
Procedure
- Visual and dimensional categorization
- identify tool families
- document geometry variation
- estimate composition per type
Carbide/Cobalt Composition Assessment
CRITICAL
Purpose
- verify WC 70-90% and cobalt 5-15%
- assess precious metal recovery value (cobalt is EXPENSIVE VALUABLE)
Acceptance Criteria
- WC 70-90%, Cobalt 5-15%
- dual-metal recovery value
- precious binder recovery
Tool Integrity Assessment
Purpose
- Evaluate structural integrity
- assess processing compatibility
- confirm recycling viability
Acceptance Criteria
- Tools structurally sound
- no critical cracks
- recyclable condition
Procedure
- Visual inspection for cracks, chipping, structural compromise
- assess mechanical integrity
- confirm dual-metal separation feasibility
Coolant/Machining Fluid Residue Assessment
Purpose
- Evaluate surface contamination
- assess cleaning requirement
- confirm post-clean composition viable
Acceptance Criteria
- Coolant residue <2%
- cleaning feasible
- post-clean composition meets specification
Procedure
- Visual inspection
- coolant film identification
- solvent residue assessment
- cleaning protocol specification
Comprehensive ICP-AES Analysis
Purpose
- Verify WC 70-90%
- quantify cobalt 5-15% (PRECIOUS METAL EMPHASIS)
- quantify iron, carbon, trace
- confirm carbide specification
Acceptance Criteria
- WC 70-90%, Co 5-15% (DUAL-METAL RECOVERY CONFIRMED), Fe <2%, C 6-12%, other elements acceptable