Turning "Waste" into Gold: The 2026 Strategic Landscape of Tungsten Carbide Recycling

As of late January 2026, the market has hit a fascinating tipping point: Scrap Cemented Carbide is trading at 800 RMB/kg, while Recycled Tungsten Carbide (WC) Powder commands 1,400 RMB/kg.

With a 600 RMB ($85+) margin per kilogram, the "Urban Mining" of tungsten is no longer just a sustainability goal—it is a high-profit industrial frontier.

Tungsten (W) and Cobalt (Co) are listed as Critical Raw Materials by the EU, US, and China. With over 80% of primary supply controlled by concentrated regions, the supply chain is fragile.

• The Grade Advantage: Natural tungsten ore often contains ＜1%WO3 . Scrap carbide? It's a "man-made mine" with 70-95% Tungsten.
• Energy Efficiency: Direct recycling (Zinc Process) uses only 1/3 to 1/4 of the energy required for primary production, cutting CO2 emissions by over 40%.

The choice of recycling route is determined by the "purity" of your scrap:

Ideal for high-quality solid scrap (CNC inserts, drills).

• The Mechanism: Molten Zinc (Zn) diffuses into the Cobalt (Co) binder at 900℃ - 1050℃.
• The Reaction: The formation of Zn-Co alloys causes massive volume expansion, causing the rigid carbide structure to disintegrate into a porous "sponge."
• The Result: Zinc is recovered via Vacuum Distillation (P < 13Pa), leaving the original WC grain structure intact.

Essential for contaminated "soft scrap" (grinding sludges and mixed powders).

• Step 1: Oxidative roasting at 700℃ - 900℃ to create WO3.
• Step 2: Pressure leaching with Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH):

• Step 3: Ion exchange and crystallization to produce Ammonium Paratungstate (APT) (99.95% purity).

The market is split between "Closed-Loop Giants" and "Scalability Leaders":

• The West (Sandvik, Kennametal): These titans focus on Buy-Back Programs. They prioritize the Zinc Process to keep high-grade scrap within their internal production loops, emphasizing low-carbon footprints.
• China (XTC, GEM, ZGCC): Leveraging massive smelting capacity, Chinese firms lead in Chemical Recycling. They excel at processing low-grade, complex scrap and are now pivoting toward high-end Jet Milling and inert-atmosphere powder reconstruction.

What's next for 2026 and beyond?

1. Electrochemical Dissolution: Using pulse currents to selectively dissolve the Cobalt binder without oxidizing the Tungsten.
2. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES): "Green solvents" replacing harsh acids for a truly eco-friendly chemical route.
3. Bio-hydrometallurgy: Using microbes to "eat" the binder phase in grinding sludges.

If you are in the thermal equipment or hard metal business, recycling isn't just "PR"—it's your cushion against price volatility. Choosing the right equipment (Vacuum Furnaces, Jet Mills) is the difference between a high-yield product and a contaminated batch.

Are you looking to upgrade your recycling facility or optimize your scrap recovery rate? Let's discuss the thermodynamics of your next project.