---
title: "Tungsten carbide — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Tungsten carbide has a density of 14,900 kg/m³ (13,900–15,600). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnet"
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/tungsten-carbide/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Tungsten carbide

**Density of tungsten carbide: 14,900 kg/m³ (13,900–15,600)**

14.90 g/cm³ · 930.2 lb/ft³

What tooling is actually made of is cemented carbide: tungsten carbide grains glued together by 6-15% cobalt, and the cobalt content is the whole design variable — less cobalt gives more hardness and more brittleness. That binder also means no melting point can honestly be quoted for it. Pure WC melts at 2870 °C, but a cemented grade starts losing the cobalt from around 1300 °C and is finished as a tool long before either. Its stiffness of 600 GPa, three times steel's, is why carbide boring bars can reach further without chattering.

## Properties

- **Density:** 14,900 kg/m³ (13,900–15,600) — 14.90 g/cm³
- **Tensile strength:** 800–1500 MPa
- **Young's modulus:** 600 GPa
- **Thermal conductivity:** 85 W/(m·K)
- **Hardness:** 9 Mohs
- **Thermal expansion:** 5.2 µm/(m·K)
- **Floats in water:** No
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Milling, turning and drilling tool tips
- Masonry and rock drill bits
- Wear parts, dies and nozzles
- Wedding rings and watch cases

## How it compares

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.*

- air: 1.2 kg/m³
- expanded polystyrene foam: 20 kg/m³
- rigid polyurethane foam: 40 kg/m³
- Water — the float line: 1,000 kg/m³
- tungsten carbide: 14,900 kg/m³
- tungsten: 19,250 kg/m³
- gold: 19,300 kg/m³
- platinum: 21,450 kg/m³

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| Material | Density | Relative to water |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| tungsten carbide ← | 14,900 kg/m³ | 14.90× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

Tungsten carbide contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

## Is it magnetic?

Tungsten carbide is not ferromagnetic. It is often assumed to be because it is a metal, but most metals are not — only iron, nickel, cobalt and a few alloys are attracted to an ordinary magnet.

## Common questions

### What is the density of tungsten carbide?

14,900 kg/m³ (13,900–15,600), or 14.90 g/cm³.

### Does tungsten carbide float?

No. At 14,900 kg/m³ it is denser than water.

### Is tungsten carbide magnetic?

Tungsten carbide is not ferromagnetic. It is often assumed to be because it is a metal, but most metals are not — only iron, nickel, cobalt and a few alloys are attracted to an ordinary magnet.

## Related pages

- [Does tungsten carbide float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/tungsten-carbide/)
- [Concrete](https://atoneplace.net/material/concrete/)
- [Brick](https://atoneplace.net/material/brick/)
- [Gypsum board (drywall)](https://atoneplace.net/material/gypsum-board/)
- [Reinforced concrete](https://atoneplace.net/material/reinforced-concrete/)
- [Graphite](https://atoneplace.net/material/graphite/)
- [Porcelain](https://atoneplace.net/material/porcelain/)
- [Plaster](https://atoneplace.net/material/plaster/)
- [Silicon carbide](https://atoneplace.net/material/silicon-carbide/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)