Cemented Carbides: Accelerated Material Iteration, Driving the Industry Toward High End

Against the backdrop of the global manufacturing sector’s accelerating shift toward intelligent and green transformation, cemented carbide—often referred to as the “teeth of industry”—is undergoing a transformative leap from a conventional material to one characterized by high performance and multifunctionality. As the world’s largest producer and consumer of cemented carbide, China is leveraging technology-driven innovation, deep industrial-chain collaboration, and targeted policy guidance to implement a multi-pronged approach that breaks through critical technological bottlenecks and accelerates a comprehensive transformation and upgrade toward a new stage of high-end, intelligent manufacturing.

Technological Iteration: From “Quantitative Expansion” to “Qualitative Leap”

The core advantages of cemented carbides lie in their high hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability; however, conventional manufacturing processes have long been plagued by issues such as coarse grain growth and insufficient compositional homogeneity. In recent years, breakthroughs in ultrafine-grain technology, nano-composite techniques, and cobalt-free binder systems have emerged as the key drivers of industry upgrading. For instance, reducing the grain size to the sub-micron range enables a balanced combination of hardness and toughness, resulting in a service life that is more than 30% longer; meanwhile, cobalt-free formulations that replace cobalt with rare-earth elements not only reduce reliance on cobalt resources but also elevate corrosion resistance to new levels.

In the field of manufacturing processes, the integration of intelligent manufacturing and green technologies is reshaping production models. Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group has implemented an industrial Internet platform to achieve end-to-end digital control across the entire value chain, from powder preparation to sintering and forming, with product consistency maintained within a tolerance of 0.5%. Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. has adopted hydrogen reduction technology to replace the conventional ammonia decomposition process, reducing energy consumption by 40% and carbon emissions by 35%. Of particular note is the growing application of 3D printing in the fabrication of complex-structured cutting tools: one company has successfully developed cemented carbide molds featuring internal microchannel cooling structures through metal powder laser melting, thereby doubling machining efficiency.

Industrial Chain Restructuring: From “Single-Point Breakthrough” to “System Integration”

The industrial upgrade of cemented carbides is not only reflected in material performance but, more importantly, in the innovation of supply-chain collaboration models. Under the traditional model, companies typically focus on single products such as inserts and cutting tools; however, the surging global demand for end-to-end solutions is driving the industry toward an integrated “materials + processes + services” transformation.

Take the Zhuzhou industrial cluster as an example: more than 300 local enterprises are leveraging “three-chain integration” to drive high-end development. China Tungsten High-tech has established a complete industrial chain spanning tungsten mining, tungsten carbide powder, cemented carbides, and tool systems; its newly developed cutting tools for machining aero-engine blades achieve an accuracy of 0.001 millimeters, thereby breaking foreign monopolies. Meanwhile, Huarui Precision, in collaboration with CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, has developed specialized cutting tools for high-strength aluminum alloys to meet the lightweighting requirements of rail transit equipment, reducing machining costs by 25%. This collaborative model—driven by market demand and underpinned by technological innovation—is reshaping the global competitiveness of China’s cemented carbide industry.

Meanwhile, the circular economy has emerged as a new cornerstone for industrial upgrading. Recycling technologies for spent cemented carbides are becoming increasingly sophisticated; electrolytic refining can produce recycled feedstock whose performance meets or exceeds 90% of that of virgin material. According to statistics, by 2025 China’s utilization rate of recycled cemented carbide had risen to 18%, reducing annual tungsten ore extraction by more than 20,000 tonnes. This not only alleviates resource constraints but also lowers production costs.

Breaking Through the Market: From “Mid-to-Low-End Competition” to “High-End Positioning”

Driven by emerging sectors such as new-energy vehicles, semiconductors, and aerospace, the demand structure for cemented carbides is undergoing profound transformation. In the new-energy vehicle sector, the annual growth rate of demand for ultrafine-grained cemented carbide used in battery-casing stamping dies has reached 21%; in semiconductor manufacturing, the stringent requirements for high-purity, low-defect CMP consumables and dicing blades are propelling the industry toward nanometer-level precision; and in the aerospace field, cutting tools for machining high-temperature alloys must maintain stability at temperatures as high as 1,200°C, spurring companies to develop novel ceramic-reinforced composite materials.

The global competitive landscape is also undergoing rapid restructuring. Although multinational giants such as Sandvik and Kennametal continue to dominate the high-end market, Chinese firms are accelerating their catch-up efforts. For instance, the CNC cutting inserts developed by China Tungsten High-Tech have achieved a service life in automotive engine machining that matches 90% of that of international brands, while commanding only 60% of the price. Meanwhile, Xiamen Tungsten’s PCB micro-drills, with an ultra-fine diameter of 0.05 mm and concentricity accuracy of 0.002 mm, have successfully secured a place in Apple’s supply chain. In 2025, China’s exports of high-end cemented carbides increased by 34% year on year, signaling a shift from “import substitution” to “leading innovation.”

Policy Support: From “Scale-Oriented” to “Ecosystem Building”

National strategic guidance has provided institutional safeguards for the upgrading of the cemented carbide industry. The 14th Five-Year Plan explicitly designates cemented carbide as a critical strategic material and, through fiscal subsidies and tax incentives, supports enterprises in building smart factories and green production lines. In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology included high-length-to-diameter ratio cemented carbide gun reamers in its “bottleneck” technology攻关 list, driving the domestic substitution rate from 42% to 68%. Meanwhile, the environmental protection authorities’ implementation of “dual-control” standards has compelled enterprises to adopt low-carbon smelting technologies, resulting in a 22% reduction in energy consumption per unit of output compared with 2020.

At the local level, major producing regions such as Hunan and Jiangxi have fostered innovation ecosystems characterized by “basic research–technological breakthroughs–commercialization of results” through the development of industrial clusters. For instance, Zhuzhou’s National Advanced Hard Materials Industry Center has brought together 20 national-level R&D platforms and established industry–university–research alliances with institutions like Tsinghua University and Central South University, generating more than 500 patents annually and emerging as one of the global hubs for hard-materials technology innovation.

Looking back from the vantage point of 2026, China’s cemented carbide industry has transitioned from a phase of quantitative expansion to one of qualitative leapfrogging. The synergistic interplay of technological iteration, industrial-chain restructuring, market breakthroughs, and supportive policy measures has not only sharpened the “teeth of industry” but also propelled China’s transformation from a major cemented-carbide producer into a global leader in this field. Looking ahead, as cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing continue to permeate the sector, cemented carbides will open up new avenues in areas like extreme-environment manufacturing and intelligent equipment, offering a “Chinese solution” for the global upgrade of manufacturing.

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