Tungsten carbide (cemented)

Synonyms & Trade Names

Cemented tungsten carbide, Cemented WC, Hard metal [Note: The tungsten carbide (WC) content is generally 85-95% & the cobalt content is generally 5-15%.] [1: 85% WC, 15% Co 2: 92% WC, 8% Co 3: 78% WC, 14% Co, 8% Ti]

Physical Description

A mixture of tungsten carbide, cobalt, and sometimes other metals & metal oxides or carbides.

Incompatibilities & Reactivities

Tungsten carbide: Fluorine, chlorine trifluoride, oxides of nitrogen, lead dioxide

Symptoms

irritation eyes, skin, respiratory system; possible skin sensitization to cobalt, nickel; diffuse pulmonary fibrosis; loss of appetite, nausea, cough; blood changes

Respirator Recommendations

NIOSH

Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions:
(APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode
(APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus

Escape:
(APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with an N100, R100, or P100 filter.
Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.
Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus

Tungsten carbide (cemented) containing Nickel:

NIOSH

At concentrations above the NIOSH REL, or where there is no REL, at any detectable concentration:
(APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode
(APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus

Escape:
(APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with an N100, R100, or P100 filter.
Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.
Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus

Up to 0.25 mg Co/m³:
(APF = 5) Any quarter-mask respirator.
Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.

Up to 0.5 mg Co/m³:
(APF = 10) Any particulate respirator equipped with an N95, R95, or P95 filter (including N95, R95, and P95 filtering facepieces) except quarter-mask respirators. The following filters may also be used: N99, R99, P99, N100, R100, P100.
Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.*
(APF = 10) Any supplied-air respirator*

Up to 1.25 mg Co/m³:
(APF = 25) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode*
(APF = 25) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter.*
(APF = 25) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter.*

Up to 2.5 mg Co/m³:
(APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with an N100, R100, or P100 filter.
Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.
(APF = 50) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece
(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece

Up to 20 mg Co/m³:
(APF = 2000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode

Important additional information about respirator selection