Brazed Product of Tungsten Carbide and Tool Steel Using Vacuum Furnace Technology
Brazing tungsten carbide to tool steel is a critical manufacturing process used in high-performance industrial components where wear resistance, strength, and dimensional stability are essential. This dissimilar material combination is common in cutting tools, forming dies, and wear parts, as tungsten carbide provides exceptional hardness while tool steel offers toughness and structural support. The sample shown was successfully vacuum brazed in a Normantherm vacuum brazing furnace, resulting in a clean, reliable, and high-strength joint.
Vacuum brazing is particularly well suited for carbide-to-steel assemblies due to its controlled, oxygen-free environment. Before brazing, both the tungsten carbide and tool steel surfaces are precisely machined, cleaned, and inspected to ensure proper joint fit-up. A suitable brazing filler alloy, typically silver, copper, or nickel-based, is selected based on compatibility, service temperature, and joint strength requirements. Maintaining a controlled joint clearance, generally between 0.02 and 0.05 mm, is essential to achieve optimal capillary flow and complete wetting of the joint interface.
The assembled components are placed inside the Noramantherm vacuum brazing furnace, where the chamber is evacuated to high vacuum levels (typically 10^-4 to 10^-5 mbar). This vacuum environment eliminates oxidation and removes surface contaminants, enabling brazing without flux. The furnace follows a carefully programmed thermal cycle, including uniform heating, a precise brazing temperature hold to ensure filler metal flow and bonding, and a controlled cooling phase. Uniform temperature distribution and accurate control are crucial to managing the different thermal expansion rates of tungsten carbide and tool steel, thereby minimizing residual stress and preventing cracking.
To sum up, achieving a high-quality brazed assembly depends on strict control of surface preparation, filler metal selection, joint design, and furnace parameters. When executed correctly, vacuum brazing produces a dense, void-free joint with excellent metallurgical integrity, minimal distortion, and consistent repeatability.
Noramantherm vacuum furnace technology enables manufacturers to reliably produce carbide-to-steel assemblies that meet demanding industrial standards, delivering long service life and superior performance in critical applications.