Recently, the global supply of tungsten carbide powders has experienced notable instability, accompanied by significant price increases. In some instances, costs for tungsten carbide powders have surged by over 300% within one year, presenting substantial challenges for companies dependent on tungsten carbide coatings.
This is especially relevant for critical industries such as oil & gas, aerospace, power generation, and the production of components like turbine blades, where tungsten carbide coatings are essential for wear resistance, erosion protection, and extending component lifetime.
Global Tungsten Carbide Supply Is Tightening
Several global developments are impacting tungsten carbide availability:
- The global supply of tungsten is becoming increasingly constrained.
- Prices for APT and carbide powder are rising sharply.
- Lead times are extending.
- It has become challenging to conduct long-term forecasting.
Organizations reliant on tungsten carbide coatings face potential challenges regarding both cost management and the assurance of continuous supply.
FST solutions
Through its collaboration with Höganäs, FST is able to offer solutions tailored to replace WC-Co- Cr applications with minimal compromise, as demonstrated in the graph below: For applications where both high wear and corrosion resistance provided by WC-Co-Cr are not necessary, Amperit® 678 delivers effective corrosion resistance, whereas Amperit® 685 is designed to provide superior wear resistance.
For applications where both high wear and corrosion resistance provided by WC-Co-Cr are not necessary, Amperit® 678 delivers effective corrosion resistance, whereas Amperit® 685 is designed to provide superior wear resistance.
Learn More
Would you like to explore the best solution for your specific application? Contact FST to discuss your process and determine the most suitable coating alternative for your situation.