MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
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SAFETY OF CARBIDE TOOL PRODUCTS
1. Use of Carbide Tool Products
Packages of Mitsubishi products carry a safety warning label. However, tools are not labeled with detailed warning indications. Please read "Safety of carbide tool products" in this page before handling carbide tool products and cemented carbide materials. Moreover, as a part of your workers' safety education, please notify contents of "Safety of Carbide Tool Products" to all workers.
2. Basic Characteristics of Hard Tool Materials
In Terms of  "Safety of Carbide Tool Products"
  Hard Tool Materials: General term for tool materials like cemented carbide alloy, cermet, ceramics, sintered CBN, sintered diamond, etc.
  Cemented Carbide Alloy: Tool materials which have WC (Tungsten carbide) as-main component.
Physical Characteristics
  Appearance: Varies depending on quality of material. Ex. grey, black, gold, etc.
  Smell: None
  Hardness: Cemented Carbide, Cermet HV500-3000kg/mm2 ,
Ceramics HV1000-4000kg/mm 2 ,
Sintered CBN HV2000-5000kg/mm 2 ,
Sintered Diamond HV8000-l2000kg/mm 2
  Specific Gravity: Cemented Carbide 9-16, Cermet 5-9,
Ceramics 2-7, Sintered CBN and Diamond 3-5
Constituents
  Carbide, nitride, carbon nitride, oxide,
such as W, Ti, Al, Si, Ta, B and metals
such as Co, Ni, Cr, Mo.
3. Suggestions on Handling Hard Tool Materials
  • Hard tool materials are extremely hard and brittle at the same time. Thus, they may be broken by shocks and tightening with excess force.
  • Hard tool materials have large specific gravity. Thus, they require special attention as heavy materials when the size or quantity is large.
  • Hard tool materials and ferrous materials have different thermal expansion ratios. Shrinkage or swell fit products may suffer from cracks when applied temperature is higher or lower than appropriate temperature.
  • Pay special attention on storing hard tool materials.Toughness of hard tool materials is lowered when they corrode due to coolant and other liquid.
  • For further infromation, refer to our MSDS.(Material Safety Data Sheet )
    http://www.mitsubishicarbide.com/msds/
4. Suggestions for Machining Cutting Tools
  • Surface condition affects toughness of cutting tools. Therefore, use diamond grinding wheel for finishing.
  • Grinding of cutting tools produces dust. Inhaling large
    amounts of dust may cause harm. Therefore, please use ventilation system and protection mask, etc. If the dust gets in your skin or eyes, please wash them with running water.
  • Grinding hard tool material or brazed products produces heavy metal component in coolant. Pay attention on disposing the coolant.
  • After regrinding cutting tools, make sure that there
    are no cracks.
  • Marking hard tool materials and products with razor or electric pen may cause cracks. Avoid making
    marks on areas which receive force.
  • Machining hard tool materials on EDM may cause cracks on the surface due to remaining electrons resulting in lowering toughness. Eliminate cracks by grinding, etc.
  • When brazing hard tool materials, if the temperature is too high or too low from the melting point of the brazing material, loosening and breakage may occur.