Tungsten carbide (chemical formula: WC) is an inorganic compound, specifically a carbide, comprising equal parts of tungsten and carbon atoms. Initially, it exists as a fine gray powder, but it can be molded and shaped into various forms for application in industrial machinery, cutting tools, abrasives, armor-piercing rounds, other instruments, and even jewelry.

Compared to steel, tungsten carbide is approximately twice as stiff, boasting a Young’s modulus of around 550 GPa. Additionally, it is denser than both steel and titanium. Its hardness is akin to corundum (α-Al2O3), sapphire, or ruby, making it challenging to polish and finish without abrasives of superior hardness, such as cubic boron nitride and diamond, available in powder, wheel, and compound forms.