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Article about Tungsten Carbide Rings.
Learn about manufacturing!
Forever Metals uses 857 tungsten powder
Tungsten Carbide is
commonly referred to as
the engagement band that is permanently polished. Tungsten carbide is the
most durable ring anybody can purchase. Tungsten by itself could shatter
when dropped and easily cracks do to its unique hardness, so therefore requires
carbide to prevent shattering. On its own, tungsten is vulnerable to
scratches and damage just like any other metal, such as titanium and steel.
Tungsten does not gain its extreme hardness until it is combined with a carbon
alloy, transferring it into tungsten carbide (WC) with a hardness between 8.5
and 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Tungsten carbide is four times harder than
titanium, twice as hard as steel, is virtually unscratchable, and has been
widely used for decades in industrial applications such as cutting tools, mining
machinery, and rocket engine nozzles.
The unique formula of our tungsten carbide allows these rings to be both
visually stunning and durable enough for every-day use. You are no longer
required to constantly remove and replace your ring in order to protect its
finish. Our tungsten carbide rings are made with the superior nickel-binder alloy
instead of being made from pure tungsten or with the cobalt-binder alloy.
Nickel-binder alloys are superior for several reasons:
* Nickel-binder tungsten carbide is hypoallergenic, chemically inert and
therefore will not oxidize, cause rashes, or
irritate the skin.
* We do not use cobalt as it can have an adverse reaction with the wearer’s
skin, sometimes causing a rash.
* Cobalt bonds with oils in the skin and leeches out of the ring resulting in
oxidation. The oxidation appears similar to
tarnished sliver, but cannot be
removed by polishing or grinding. Nickel, on the other hand, does not bond with
oil
and therefore does not oxidize.
Many jewelers offer pure tungsten wedding bands which lack the hardness of
tungsten carbide and can scratch quite easily. Some offer tungsten rings
made with cobalt binder because it is cheaper to produce than nickel-binder
carbide. We caution you against buying from a jeweler that doesn't specify
that their tungsten wedding bands are made with the nickel binder alloy. Many
stores don't list which alloy they are selling because they don't know which
alloy they are selling. If they don't know, it is most likely cobalt alloy
or pure tungsten which are cheaper and inferior to the nickel binder tungsten
carbide wedding bands.
Forever Metals combines traditional precious metals with tungsten carbide to
create a unique piece of jewelry with a style, polish, and texture that will
last a lifetime. We offer tungsten carbide wedding bands with precious metal
inlays of Sterling Silver, Platinum, Rose Gold, White Gold and Yellow Gold. The
tungsten carbide portion of the ring will maintain its original polish and
luster for life, while the softer inlaid precious metals will eventually develop
a textured appearance over time, creating an attractive contrast against the
lasting polish of the tungsten carbide.
The Manufacturing Process
Tungsten rings are all individually hand crafted. Each ring goes
through a 30-stage precision grinding process by craftspeople using
diamond-embedded grinding tools held in specially designed machinery. Tungsten,
nickel, and Carbide are ground into powders and then are compressed and
forged together with high-pressure dies and then is sintered (fired) in an
oxygen-free furnace at 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit (carbon black, at 900 - 2200°C)
in pusher or batch furnace (process called carburization) to form rings blanks that are indestructible and scratch proof.
Each Tungsten ring is individually hand crafted using assorted diamond abrasives
and poly crystalline diamond tooling (similar in many ways to the cutting and
polishing of a rough diamond). Each tungsten carbide ring is cut and
skillfully polished with a diamond compound using diamond tools, resulting in a
polish and shine
creating a permanent luster and polish not possible with other metals, that will
last forever.
Tungsten rings inlaid with gold, silver, platinum, or copper are created by
grinding a grove or a channel in the center of the ring and precisely "swedging" the metal
into the channel under extreme pressure.
Tungsten is the perfect combination of unbelievable strength with style and
comfort. Tungsten carbide is roughly 10 times harder than 18k gold, 5
times harder than tool steel, and 4 times harder than titanium. Tungsten
measures between 8 and 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. (Diamonds are a 10 - the highest.)
Forever Metals
Composition
84% of tungsten and 16% of carbon and nickel. There is no
cobalt in the composition of our rings. Cobalt will develop a negative
reaction to your skin and will in a short time period will develop oxidation
spots that cannot be removed or polished from your ring. This is due to
the Cobalt reacting to the human body.
Tungsten rings are composed of a metal alloy, tungsten carbide. The
alloy allows for maximum hardness and rigidity without sacrificing tensile
strength. Tungsten rings are not sizable by ordinary jewelers' tools (the metal is
too hard). Tungsten rings will NOT bend. Due to their extreme hardness, Tungsten Rings will hold their shape and shine
longer than any ring on the market, and which is why they are referred to as the "Permanently Polished Rings".
Tungsten Rings are the most wear resistant rings available. Hardness,
assuring long lasting beauty. Permanently polished Tungsten rings take a
brilliant high polish and resist scratching longer than any metal ever offered
to the public.
Those who sell Tungsten rings
(not Tungsten Carbide) have mistaken their quality of composition.
Tungsten requires the carbide to make its hardness scratchproof. Ordinary
Tungsten rings not only shatter and crack, but they have a tendency to scratch.
If you're interested in a Tungsten ring without the carbide composition, we offer
a stainless steel ring that has similar characteristics. Our Tungsten
Carbide rings are the only scratchproof ring, and they are primarily
scratchproof do to the carbide and nickel composition. The only way to
place a scratch on a tungsten carbide ring is to scratch it with a diamond or a
product containing the mineral corundum.
Event of an emergency
Tungsten carbide ring can be removed by a medical professional.
Rings made of extremely hard materials, like tungsten carbide or ceramic, can
only be removed by cracking them into pieces with standard vice grip style
locking pliers. Standard ring cutters will not work.
USELESS FACTS
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CHARACTERISTICS
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MANUFACTURING
COMPARISON
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HISTORY
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CONSUMER & INDUSTRIAL USE
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