Tweezers and Cutters

Carbide is a highly abrasion resistant alloy that is extensively used across the manufacturing industry for cutting tools. It is 2-3 times rigid as stainless steel and has high temperature resistance, making is useful in a variety of applications such as automotive, defense, drilling, and wood turning. Because of its unique properties, carbide is used to make several types of medical instruments, such as forceps, scissors, and wire cutters. Healthcare professionals all over the world rely on the exceptional durability, sharpness, and performance of devices made with this alloy.

Lab Pro’s high precision carbide cutters are engineered for comfort, safety, and ease of use and perfect for surgeons, veterinarians, and dentists. What makes carbide blades the superior choice for your specific application?

Tungsten Carbide

Carbide, or “hard metal,” is the shortened name of tungsten carbide. Tungsten carbide has the chemical formula WC, meaning that it has equal parts of the metal and carbon. To make carbide, tungsten can be reacted with carbon at high temperatures (1400-2000°C).¹ Granular tungsten carbide can then be cemented together with a metal like cobalt, nickel, or titanium and molded into tools with heat and pressure.

On a molecular level, tungsten carbide has a hexagonal or cubic lattice structure. Cemented carbide is so hard that it can only be polished with cubic boron nitride or diamond powder. The alloy is extremely dense and resists pitting, scratching, and rusting. Carbide cutters made entirely of tungsten carbide would be very heavy, therefore inserts are often used. Because carbide has a melting point of melting point at 2,870 °C, it is also highly temperature resistant.² Tungsten carbide also has a low electrical resistivity of about 0.2 µΩ·m.¹ Tungsten carbide is recyclable and encouraged.

Advantages of Carbide Cutters

1. Strength: Tungsten carbide’s high tensile strength, compression strength, and hardness gives surgeons the ability to cut hard wires without worry. The carbide inserts in Excelta’s C7000X cutters are made from the highest grade AISI 52/100 carbon steel, making them suitable for cutting hard wire, including Nitinol. This series of cutters is engineered for perfection, boasting a Lazer Flush(TM) cutting edge, extreme tip geometry for critical access to coils, anti-microbial/anti-static handles (10¹⁰ ohms/sq), stainless steel springs and the innovative LazerLok(TM) joint system.
2. Sharpness: Due to the ability of tungsten carbide to be polished to ½ of a microinch, carbide cutters can be sharpened finer than steel and even titanium. Gold-plated scissors with carbide inserts are popular with surgeons and dentist because they are easily identifiable and have sharp edges for cutting tissues, bone, or sutures. These scissors also have utility for florists, pet groomers, and embroiderers. Curved-bladed scissors are perfect for dissection and wound care.
3. Precision: The ultra-sharp edges of carbide cutters allow surgeons and orthodontists to cut soft wire pins and ligature wires with great precision, enhancing safety and efficiency. Excelta’s four star self-opening precision Scissors with precision cutting carbide insert blades are ideal for hard wire cutting applications.
4. Wear-resistance: Carbide’s high density, resistance to deformation, and rust-resistance lend to its ability to stand the test of time, apart from acids and peroxide. In comparison to steel, tungsten carbide wears up to 100 times longer. Lab Pro offers Swiss Made, high precision cutting tweezers with anti-acid/anti-mag stainless steel cutting tips.
5. Retains cutting edge: Carbide blades retain their cutting edge.
6. Compression resistance: Carbide blades won’t dent.
7. Firmer grasp: Due to carbide’s density and texture, carbide tipped tools provide a solid grip. Carbide cutters latch on to wires easily, preventing slippage.
8. Easily sterilized: Since carbide is non-ferrous, it won’t rust in an autoclave. Lab Pro offers cleanroom safe Excelta cutters with a hard wire cutting capacity of 0.008" - 0.012".
9. Temperature resistance: Carbide has great dimensional stability over a range of -453°F-1400°
10. Grafting: Carbide is easily micro bonded to other metals. Once carbide is cemented in a matrix it won’t chip or flake and leave residue.

Carbide Cutters

Carbide cutters are essential tools for many healthcare professionals because they enhance the user’s cutting abilities and make the cleanest cuts. Lab Pro carries only high-quality carbide cutters with extremely hard tungsten carbide inserts that will allow you to make exact cuts, whether you want to cut medical grade hard wire, pins, or even piano wire. Choosing carbide cutters is an investment in efficiency.

Note: These products and chemicals are meant to be used for research, industrial work, cleaning or disinfecting and should always be stored out of the reach of young children or infants. 

For over 40 years, Lab Pro Inc. has been committed to delivering the highest quality chemicals, reagents, and cleaning solutions to medical and biotechnical laboratories worldwide. To learn more, visit the biggest Lab Supply showroom in California, or contact us online or at 888-452-2776.

References

1. Pierson, Hugh O. (1992). Handbook of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Principles, Technology, and Applications. William Andrew Inc. ISBN 0-8155-1300-3.
2. Pohanish, Richard P. (2012). Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens (6th ed.). Elsevier, Inc. p. 2670. ISBN 978-1-4377-7869-4.