Tungsten Carbide Ball Fitting Characteristics

Tungsten carbide ball fitting are ideal for applications where extreme hardness must be accompanied by high resistance to wear and impact. They are well-suited to elevated temperatures, corrosion, humidity, abrasion, and poor lubrication conditions.
tungsten carbide ball fitting
Tungsten Carbide Ball Fitting Mechanical Properties

• Ultimate tensile strength 220,000 psi
• Ultimate compressive strength 643,000 psi
• Transverse rupture strength 228,000 psi
• Modulus of elasticity 98,000,000
• Density (approx.) 0.54 lb. /in.
• Specific gravity 14.85-15.5
• Electrically conductive slightly magnetic
• Low thermal expansion rate

Tungsten carbide ball fitting from Hartford are tested using a gage that is accurate to ±0.0001 (grades 10, 15 and 25) to insure conformance with ABMA standards, as well as individual customer quality requirements.

Tungsten Carbide Ball Fitting Profile

High hardness and dimensional stability make tungsten carbide ball fitting the preferred choice for precision hydraulic valves, high-load bearings, inertial navigation systems, ball screws, linear bearings in sideways, gauging and checking instruments, and meters. Tungsten carbide balls are also used for ballizing, to work-harden and improve fretting fatigue strength. Tungsten carbide balls are standard for Rockwell testing, and for Brinell testing of materials in the range of 444-627 HB.

Tungsten Carbide Ball Fitting

Tungsten carbide ball fitting are a unique category of balls because they are manufactured in a sintering process, whereupon the metal powder is formed under extreme heat and pressure.  Tungsten carbide ball fitting are extremely hard (92 Rockwell).  The manufacturing technique makes these balls substantially more expensive than other materials, but practically inert. Their relative inertness makes them extremely resistant to interaction with various liquids and alloys.

Tungsten carbide ball fitting can be found in heavy machinery applications, since they are much stronger than stainless steel or chrome.  Particularly, tungsten carbide ball fitting have been used industrial sprayers to regulate the flow of fertilizers or pesticides to crops. 
Due to the strength of tungsten carbide, the balls are frequently used in the downhole tool industry for hard banding.  These are critical applications for the petroleum drilling industry.