Tungsten carbide isn’t pure tungsten—it’s a ceramic-metal composite. Powdered tungsten (W) and carbon (C) are sintered at 2,600°F under 30,000 psi, forming WC crystals harder than steel. Cobalt or nickel binds it (nickel-free for allergies).
Mohs 9 hardness comes from covalent bonds—electrons shared like diamond. Density (15 g/cm³) gives satisfying heft. Thermal conductivity keeps it cool to touch.
Polishing: diamond paste on felt wheels achieves mirror finish. Black womens wedding rings use titanium nitride PVD—vaporized in vacuum chambers, bonding at molecular level. Scratch it? Coating flakes, base shines through
>Why no resizing? Yield strength exceeds 600 MPa—bending requires forces that shatter it. Fracture toughness improved with nano-grain structures (modern vs. 1990s brittle versions)
>Eco angle: tungsten is recyclable; old rings can be re-sintered. Mining in China dominates, but Rwanda’s conflict-free sources gain traction
>Bottom line: your ring is spacecraft-grade material, miniaturized. Science never looked so good
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