How does cobalt content affect the performance of tungsten carbide mining tools?The percentage of cobalt binder in a tungsten carbide grade controls the trade-off between toughness and wear resistance. For mining tools, higher cobalt content (typically 10% to 20%) produces a tougher, more impact-resistant grade. This is essential for tools that experience heavy shock loading, such as picks for hard, fractured rock or button bits for roof bolting. Conversely, lower cobalt content (6% to 10%) creates a harder, more wear-resistant grade ideal for drilling soft to medium rock where abrasion is the main failure mode, not impact. If you pick a grade with too little cobalt for an impact-heavy job, the carbide will crack. Use too much cobalt in a highly abrasive formation, and the tool will wear out prematurely.https://www.xymjcarbide.com/products/tungsten-carbide-mining-tools