If you’re considering buying a tungsten carbide ring, you might be wondering whether it’s really as tough as diamond. After all, you’ve probably seen videos online where tungsten rings are hit with hammers and never break. Unfortunately, the truth is a little more complicated than that.
To start, it’s important to understand the difference between tungsten and tungsten carbide. Pure tungsten is element number 74 on the periodic table and is known for its dark-grey color, high density and hardness. Tungsten carbide, on the other hand, is an alloy made by combining tungsten with carbon and often other metals like nickel and titanium for specific properties. Tungsten carbide is used to make cutting tools and armor-piercing ammunition among other things.
Tungsten Carbide is harder than steel, but not as hard as diamonds. It is rated at about a nine on the Mohs scale, while diamonds are a 10. In addition to being much harder than steel, tungsten carbide also has very good resistance to wear and galling.
The reason diamonds are a little harder than tungsten carbide is that they have better elastic properties. Diamonds have a higher Young’s modulus and can bend and compress a lot more than metals. This allows them to be used in applications where it’s important to have a tough and durable material. Tungsten carbide, on the hand, has very good rigidity and keeps its stability even at extreme hot or cold temperatures. This makes it perfect for machining applications.
