9 ROTARY BURRS – TOOL MATERIALS NAVIGATOR HM materials A sintered powder metallurgy substrate, consisting of a metallic carbide composite with binder metal. The most central raw material is tungsten carbide (WC). Tungsten carbide contributes to the hardness of the material. Tantalum carbide (TaC), titanium carbide (TiC) and Carbide Materials niobium carbide (NbC) complements WC and adjusts the properties to what is desired. These three materials are called cubic carbides. (or Hard Materials) Cobalt (Co) acts as a binder and keeps the material together. Carbide materials are often characterised by high compression strength, high hardness and therefore high wear resistance, but also by limited flexural strength and toughness. Carbide is used in taps, reamers, milling cutters, drills and thread milling cutters. 222