How to Verify Material Authenticity in Tungsten Carbide Bushings

For OEMs and industrial companies, the quality of a tungsten carbide bushing depends heavily on the authenticity of its material.

Poor-quality or mixed-grade carbide can lead to early wear, cracking, leakage, and unexpected downtime.

This guide explains practical methods to verify whether a 텅스텐 카바이드 부싱 is made from true, high-grade materials.

It is written in simple English and designed for decision-makers who need clear and reliable information.

Why Material Authenticity Matters for OEMs

The performance of a tungsten carbide bushing comes mainly from the purity of 텅스텐 카바이드 분말 and the quality of the binder (cobalt or nickel).

If a supplier uses recycled powder, low-purity carbide, or incorrect binder ratio, the bushing will fail earlier than expected.

1). Risks of using non-authentic material

  • 낮추다 경도 and faster wear

  • 더 높은 다공성 leading to cracks

  • Poor chemical resistance

  • 줄인 밀도

  • Weak bonding between carbide particles

  • Shorter service life and more replacements

2). Typical Failure Impact Table

문제 Cause Effect on Equipment
Low hardness Weak binder or recycled powder Fast wear, shorter lifetime
High porosity Poor sintering quality Cracks, chipping, leakage
Wrong binder ratio Uncontrolled cobalt/nickel levels Low toughness or poor corrosion resistance

Verify Material Through Chemical Composition Testing

Material composition determines hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. The most reliable way to confirm authenticity is chemical analysis.

1). Common chemical tests

  • XRF (X-ray Fluorescence): Detects tungsten carbide purity, binder type, and contamination.

  • ICP-OES / ICP-MS: Gives precise measurement of cobalt, nickel, iron, and other trace elements.

  • Carbon & oxygen analysis: Shows moisture or oxidation in carbide powder.

2). What OEMs should require

  • A chemical composition report for every batch

  • Clear grade statement (e.g., WC-6Co, WC-12Co, WC-Ni)

  • Zero recycled powder unless approved

  • Proof that powder source is stable and consistent

If a supplier cannot offer composition reports, authenticity is doubtful.

Use Density and Porosity Testing

Tungsten carbide is a high-density material. If density is too low, it means the sintering process was poor or the material is not pure.

1). 밀도 testing methods

  • Archimedes density test (most common)

  • Hydrostatic weighing

  • Helium 다공성 test (advanced)

2). Typical density values

  • Standard WC-Co: 14.4–15.0 g/cm³

  • Low density = high porosity poor wear life

3). Density Evaluation Table

밀도(g/cm³) Quality Level Interpretation
14.8–15.0 훌륭한 Low porosity, correct binder ratio
14.4–14.7 Acceptable Normal commercial level
Below 14.3 가난한 High porosity or mixed materials

Verify Authenticity Through Hardness Testing

Hardness reveals heat-treatment quality, binder ratio accuracy, and grain structure stability.

1). Hardness expectations

  • WC-6Co: ~1700 HV

  • WC-12Co: ~1500 HV

  • Submicron WC: 1800 HV+

If hardness deviates significantly, the material is not authentic.

2). Typical hardness tests

OEMs should always request hardness data for every batch.

Check Microstructure With Microscopy

에이 텅스텐 카바이드 부싱’s microstructure can reveal whether the raw powder was pure, mixed, recycled, or sintered properly.

1). What inspectors look for

  • Uniform WC grains

  • No abnormal grain growth

  • Even binder distribution

  • No cracks, pits, or voids

  • No contamination particles

2). Equipment used

  • Optical microscope (basic check)

  • SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) (detailed analysis)

Microstructure provides the strongest visual proof of authenticity.

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) for Hidden Defects

NDT methods help detect internal problems that suggest poor-quality or fake materials.

Common NDT methods

  • Ultrasonic testing – finds internal cracks or voids

  • Dye penetrant inspection – finds surface defects

  • Eddy current testing – detects structural differences

If a bushing has many internal defects, the material quality is probably fake or low-grade.

Evaluate Supplier Documentation and Traceability

A strong supplier provides complete documentation and full traceability.

1). Documents that prove authenticity

  • Material certificate (MTC)

  • Chemical composition report

  • 밀도 report

  • 경도 report

  • Microstructure images

  • NDT test results

  • Powder batch number and source

2). Traceability Table

Item Strong Supplier Weak Supplier
Powder source record Clear and traceable Not provided
Chemical reports Every batch Sometimes missing
Hardness & density Full test data Not detailed

결론

Verifying the authenticity of tungsten carbide bushings is essential for ensuring long service life and safe equipment operation.

OEMs should check chemical composition, density, hardness, microstructure, NDT results, and supplier documentation.

With the right verification steps, decision-makers can protect their equipment, reduce downtime, and avoid poor-quality products.

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