Sandvik was reportedly the first company in history to manufacture rock tools with cemented carbide, which is considered one of the most successful composite engineering materials ever produced. The company has now gathered its most powerful carbide grades under one name: PowerCarbide. The range offers a combination of strength, hardness, toughness and wear resistance, which significantly enhances both drilling performance and cost effectiveness.
“Sandvik has been the market leader in the development of cemented carbides for decades. The introduction of the PowerCarbide concept enables us to showcase the importance of carbide grades in drilling operations,” said Marie Lundbäck, R&D manager for hard materials, rock tools at Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology. “Our key strengths in this area lie in our innovations in advanced material compositions and production processes.”
Sandvik said that it also controls the entire production chain – from its own tungsten mine to the production of drill bits. Such an approach is believed to be unique in the market. “Sandvik PowerCarbide is the most significant carbide innovation in the rock drilling industry for decades,” claimed Ms Lundbäck. “As we have the most comprehensive range of advanced carbide tools, we can offer our customers tailored solutions to meet their specific drilling needs. At the same time, we are able to contribute to a more sustainable future through our unique global carbide recycling system.”
The Sandvik PowerCarbide family currently consists of the grades DP55, DP65, GC80, SH70, XT49, XT70 and XT90. The company said new grades will be launched and added to the family as it continues to develop the range. All Sandvik products with PowerCarbide inserts will have a PowerCarbide symbol to differentiate them from the company’s standard carbide products.