Tungsten carbide
Tungsten carbide, WC or W2C, is an alloy of tungsten and carbon similar to titanium carbide. Its extreme hardness makes it useful in the manufacture of cutting tools, abrasives and bearings, as a cheaper alternative to diamond. Tungsten carbide is also a material that is used in wedding bands.
It is also used as a neutron reflector and a brick of this matter was dropped onto a plutonium core causing it to reach critical mass by Harry K. Daghlian, Jr.
Data
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Structure | hexagonal close-packed (HCP) |
| Density | 15800 kg/m3 |
| Thermal conductivity | 84.02 W/m/K |
| Tensile strength | 0.3448 GPa |
| Melting Point | 2870 °C |