tungsten carbide

American  

noun

1. a very hard, black or gray compound of tungsten and carbon, used in the manufacture of cutting and abrasion tools, dies, and wear-resistant machine parts.

---

tungsten carbide British  

noun

1. a fine very hard crystalline grey powder produced by heating tungsten and carbon to a very high temperature: used in the manufacture of drill bits, dies, etc. Symbol: WC; melting pt: 2870°C

---

tungsten carbide Scientific  

1. An inorganic carbon compound that forms a fine gray powder whose grains are dense and extremely hard. Tungsten carbide is used in tools, dies, wear-resistant machine parts, and abrasives. Chemical formula: WC.

---

Etymology

Origin of tungsten carbide

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

One promising option is tungsten carbide, an Earth-abundant material already widely used in industrial machinery, cutting tools, and chisels.

From Science Daily

Despite its potential, tungsten carbide has not been easy to use as a catalyst.

From Science Daily

Researchers led by Marc Porosoff, an associate professor in the University of Rochester's Department of Chemical and Sustainability Engineering, have now made important progress that could allow tungsten carbide to compete with platinum in key chemical reactions.

From Science Daily

According to Sinhara Perera, a chemical engineering PhD student in Porosoff's lab, one of the main challenges lies in how tungsten carbide atoms arrange themselves.

From Science Daily

Tungsten carbide's atoms can form many different configurations, known as phases, says Perera.

From Science Daily