Description
Cemented Carbide Reference Standard | 10.35% Certified Cobalt | XRF Sample Cup or Bulk Powder
NIST SRM 887 is a tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) certified reference material designed for analytical verification, instrument performance monitoring, and quality control of cemented carbide materials. With a certified cobalt concentration of 10.35% by weight, this reference material provides a reliable composition benchmark for laboratories, metal recyclers, carbide manufacturers, and industrial quality control departments.
Alloy Geek offers SRM 887 in two convenient configurations: a prepared XRF sample cup for direct X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing or a 100 g bulk powder jar for laboratories requiring additional material for sample preparation and analytical testing.
Whether you're verifying cobalt measurements in tungsten carbide, evaluating XRF performance, or developing analytical procedures for hardmetal alloys, SRM 887 provides a recognized reference material for your quality assurance program.
Available Sample Configurations
Prepared XRF Sample Cup
Designed for customers who need a convenient reference sample for routine XRF measurements, this option contains SRM 887 powder prepared in an XRF sample cup.
- Prepared for use with compatible handheld and benchtop XRF analyzers
- Convenient for routine cobalt measurement verification
- Supports repeatability checks and instrument performance monitoring
- Helps reduce operator handling of loose powder
- Suitable for use in carbide recycling, manufacturing, and laboratory quality control
The prepared sample cup provides a practical solution for facilities that routinely analyze tungsten carbide and cobalt-bearing hardmetals.
100 g Bulk Powder Jar
For laboratories requiring larger quantities or alternative sample preparation methods, SRM 887 is also available as a 100 g bulk powder jar.
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Fine cemented carbide powder
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Suitable for preparing multiple XRF specimens
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Compatible with laboratory sample preparation procedures
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Can be used for XRF and other appropriate chemical or instrumental analytical methods
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Ideal for method development, laboratory quality control, and repeated testing
Select your preferred configuration before adding the product to your cart.
Certified Chemical Composition
NIST SRM 887 is a sintered tungsten carbide-based material containing approximately 10% cobalt as a binder constituent.
The material is designated W83-Co10, representing its nominal tungsten-rich cemented carbide composition.
The certified cobalt value provides a reference point for checking analytical measurements in this material.
| Element | Concentration (% by Weight) | Certification Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt (Co) | 10.35 ± 0.15 | Certified |
| Carbon (C) | 5.5 | Informational |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | <0.05 | Informational |
| Nickel (Ni) | <0.01 | Informational |
| Iron (Fe) | <0.05 | Informational |
| Titanium (Ti) | <0.05 | Informational |
| Tantalum (Ta) | <0.01 | Informational |
| Niobium (Nb) | <0.05 | Informational |
Important: Cobalt is the certified constituent of SRM 887. Other concentrations listed above are provided for informational purposes and are not certified values. Tungsten is the principal matrix constituent but does not have a separately certified concentration on the certificate.
For complete certification information, refer to the accompanying NIST Certificate of Analysis.
XRF Verification for Tungsten Carbide and Cobalt Alloys
Accurate cobalt measurements are especially important when testing cemented carbide materials. The cobalt binder content affects the mechanical properties and application suitability of tungsten carbide products, making reliable chemical analysis important in manufacturing, material recycling, and quality assurance.
NIST SRM 887 provides a convenient material for evaluating XRF measurement performance in a tungsten-rich carbide matrix.
Common XRF Applications:
- Verify cobalt measurements in tungsten carbide materials
- Monitor handheld and benchtop XRF analyzer performance
- Evaluate measurement repeatability and consistency
- Support quality control procedures for cemented carbides
- Check analytical performance before testing production samples
- Compare measurement results across compatible XRF instruments
- Support laboratory method verification and measurement quality assurance
The prepared XRF sample cup is particularly useful for routine checks of cobalt analysis in facilities processing carbide cutting tools, industrial inserts, and tungsten carbide scrap.
Applications in Tungsten Carbide Recycling
Tungsten carbide is widely used in cutting tools, drilling equipment, wear-resistant components, and industrial machining applications.
Carbide scrap can contain varying cobalt binder concentrations, making chemical identification an important part of sorting, valuation, and material recovery.
SRM 887 is well suited for companies performing XRF analysis of:
- Tungsten Carbide Cutting Inserts
- Cemented Carbide Tools and Components
- Tungsten Carbide Scrap
- Hardmetal Manufacturing Materials
- Cobalt-Bonded Tungsten Carbide
- Industrial Wear-Resistant Components
- Carbide Recycling and Material Recovery Streams
By using a certified cobalt reference material, operators can periodically check analyzer performance and identify potential measurement deviations before making material sorting or quality control decisions.
Laboratory Analysis and Quality Control
In addition to XRF testing, the bulk powder configuration can be used in laboratories performing chemical and instrumental analysis of cemented carbide materials.
Potential applications include:
- Analytical Method Development
- Laboratory Quality Assurance
- Instrument Performance Verification
- Interlaboratory Measurement Comparisons
- Sample Preparation Procedure Evaluation
- Chemical Analysis of Tungsten Carbide Materials
The bulk powder allows laboratories to prepare samples according to their established procedures, including appropriate pressed-powder preparation, fusion, or chemical digestion methods where applicable.
Material Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Reference Material | NIST SRM 887 |
| Material Description | Cemented Carbide |
| Material Designation | W83-Co10 |
| Matrix | Tungsten Carbide / Cobalt |
| Physical Form | Fine Powder |
| Nominal Particle Size | 150 µm |
| Certified Element | Cobalt (Co) |
| Certified Cobalt Concentration | 10.35% |
| Estimated Cobalt Uncertainty | 0.15 Percentage Points |
| Available Configurations | Prepared XRF Sample Cup / 100 g Bulk Powder Jar |
| Primary Application | XRF Verification and Analytical Quality Control |
| Reference Documentation | NIST Certificate of Analysis |
Certificate of Analysis
NIST SRM 887 is supported by a Certificate of Analysis issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The certificate documents the certified cobalt concentration, estimated uncertainty, material composition information, and supporting certification details.
Certificate Information:
- Reference Material: NIST SRM 887
- Material: Cemented Carbide (W83-Co10)
- Certified Cobalt: 10.35% by Weight
- Estimated Uncertainty: 0.15 Percentage Points
- Certificate Date: September 5, 1988
The original certification was developed through a cooperative program involving NIST and ASTM.
Important XRF Testing Considerations
SRM 887 is a powdered reference material rather than a solid metal calibration block. XRF measurement results can be influenced by sample preparation, particle size, sample thickness, X-ray film, instrument calibration, and measurement geometry.
For the prepared XRF sample cup, testing should be performed using an appropriate measurement method and consistent geometry.
The certified cobalt concentration is associated with the reference material itself. Preparation in an XRF sample cup does not constitute a separate certification of the assembled cup or eliminate potential sample preparation effects.
Carbon cannot be directly measured by conventional handheld XRF analyzers. The informational carbon concentration is provided for reference and may be relevant to laboratories using other analytical methods.
Why Buy Your XRF Reference Materials from Alloy Geek?
Alloy Geek specializes in XRF analyzers, certified reference materials, instrument accessories, and analytical testing applications.
Our prepared XRF reference materials help industrial customers incorporate certified composition standards into their routine testing procedures without the additional work of preparing loose powder samples.
Whether you're testing tungsten carbide scrap with a handheld XRF analyzer or performing laboratory quality control with a benchtop instrument, Alloy Geek provides reference materials selected for practical analytical applications.
Choose the prepared XRF sample cup for convenient routine testing or the bulk powder jar for flexible laboratory sample preparation.
Order NIST SRM 887 today to support reliable cobalt measurements and quality control in tungsten carbide analysis.