Tungsten Carbide Dies (Drawing)

We manufacturer of drawing dies with tungsten carbide blanks inside as a cost effective solution for a wide variety of wire processing applications. Carbide dies are frequently and successfully used in wire drawing (round & shaped), bunching, stranding, guiding, and split die applications.

Typically tungsten carbide dies are used for manufacturing wire or rod, generally in highly abrasive and high carbon material areas where PCD dies are not cost effective. It is often used in short run applications where trials, testing or small lots are desired.

Tungsten Carbide dies can be made in a wide range of sizes, ranging from 0.127 – 76.2 mm (.005 – 3.000”) or larger upon request.

Like all products from Esteves Group you can expect these products to be manufactured with the highest quality and accuracy standards.

Tungsten carbide, abbreviated as WC or TC, also called cemented carbide, hardmetal or widia, is a metal matrix composite where tungsten carbide particles are the aggregate and metallic cobalt serves as the matrix. It is a non-oxidizing ceramic that can withstand high temperatures while maintaining a hardness comparable to corundum or sapphire.

Key benefits of our tungsten carbide dies• Sizes are available up to 76 mm rod (3.0″)
• Cost effective
• Even and round wear during usage
• Blanks are thermally stable up to 2870°C (5198 °F)

ApplicabilityTungsten carbide has been a base material for drawing dies for over 100 years and continues to be a viable option for many applications. These were, next to natural diamond dies, the first types of drawing dies manufactured by Esteves Group. Tungsten Carbide and Natural Diamond were the only materials for many decades. It wasn’t until the invention ofSSCD and PCD in recent years that the exclusive use of natural diamond and tungsten carbide was reduced.

Tungsten carbide dies are successfully used for applications that require high heat and shock resistance or when short runs are desired. The affordable cost of Tungsten Carbide makes this possible. Due to the relative ease of machinability and cost effectiveness; Tungsten Carbide is also the preferred material of choice for most shaped wire drawing dies.

Typical application areas:
• Steel wire
• Stainless steel wire
• Copper wire
• Aluminum wire
• Tungsten wire
• Various other ferrous and non-ferrous metal wire types

Product useTungsten carbide can be chosen as a raw material for the following products from Esteves Group:
• Wire drawing dies
• Shaped wire drawing dies
• Split dies
• Bunching/Stranding dies
• Extrusion tools
• Compacting dies
• Refurbishing/recutting drawing dies

Size rangeTungsten carbide wire dies (TC dies) are part of Esteves Group’s diamond wire dies product portfolio. Typical ranges (both smaller and larger sizes are available on request):

• 0.005 to 2.00 mm (.00019 – .0787”) – natural diamond wire dies (ND dies)
• 0.010 to 2.05 mm (.00039 – .0807”) – synthetic single crystal diamond wire dies (SSCD dies)
• 0.040 to 35.0 mm (.00157 – 1.378”) – polycrystalline diamond wire dies (PCD dies)
• 0.127 to 76.2 mm (.005 – 3.000”) – tungsten carbide wire dies (T/C dies)