Karbidsegment

Karbidsegment, literally “carbide segment” in German-language technical usage, denotes a modular segment manufactured from carbide materials used to provide hard, wear-resistant components in tools and machinery. The term can refer to segmented inserts, rings, or blocks that are brazed or cemented into a holder or substrate.

Composition and variants: Most karbidsegments use cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co) as the base; other carbide systems such as TiC- or TaC-based compositions exist, and multi-layer configurations are sometimes used to tailor wear resistance and thermal properties. Segments may be coated with protective films such as TiN or Al2O3 to reduce adhesion and wear.

Manufacture: Produced via powder metallurgy; carbide powders are blended, pressed into the desired geometry, and sintered at high temperature. Post-sintering finishing is common. Segments are attached to tools or substrates by brazing, diffusion bonding, or mechanical retention. Segmentation allows replacement of worn portions without discarding the entire tool.

Applications: Widely used in cutting tools (indexable inserts, milling and turning tools), as wear parts such as liners and sleeves, and in mining or construction tools (rock drills, mining picks). Segmented carbide teeth are also employed in some saw blades to combine wear resistance with replaceable wear elements.

Performance and considerations: Karbidsegments offer high hardness, wear resistance, and hot hardness, but they are brittle and have limited impact resistance. Costs and processing complexity are higher than for some alternative materials. The ability to replace worn segments can reduce downtime and extend tool life.

See also: Cemented carbide, Tungsten carbide, Tooling inserts, Segmented blades.