Description
Tungsten Carbide Reference Standard | Certified Cobalt, Tantalum & Titanium | XRF Sample Cup or Bulk Powder
NIST SRM 889 is a cemented carbide certified reference material (CRM) designed for chemical composition verification, instrument performance monitoring, and quality control of tungsten carbide alloys containing cobalt, tantalum, and titanium.
Featuring certified concentrations of 9.50% cobalt (Co), 4.60% tantalum (Ta), and 4.03% titanium (Ti), this material provides a reliable analytical benchmark for laboratories, carbide manufacturers, metal recyclers, and industrial quality control departments analyzing specialized tungsten carbide alloys.
Alloy Geek offers NIST SRM 889 in two configurations: a prepared XRF sample cup for convenient X-ray fluorescence testing or a 100 g bulk powder jar for laboratories requiring additional material for sample preparation and chemical analysis.
Whether you're verifying elemental measurements with a handheld XRF analyzer, evaluating analytical performance with a benchtop XRF system, or developing laboratory quality control procedures, SRM 889 provides certified concentrations for three important constituents in a tungsten-rich cemented carbide matrix.
Available Sample Configurations
Prepared XRF Sample Cup
Designed for convenient testing with compatible handheld and benchtop XRF analyzers, this option contains NIST SRM 889 powder prepared in an XRF sample cup.
- Prepared for routine XRF verification and analytical quality control
- Certified concentrations for cobalt, tantalum, and titanium
- Convenient for monitoring measurement repeatability and instrument performance
- Reduces routine handling of loose carbide powder
- Suitable for carbide recycling, manufacturing, and laboratory applications
- Practical for routine instrument verification checks
The prepared XRF sample cup is particularly useful for facilities analyzing tungsten carbide cutting tools, industrial inserts, hardmetal scrap, and specialty cemented carbide materials.
100 g Bulk Powder Jar
For laboratories requiring larger quantities or specialized sample preparation, SRM 889 is also available as a 100 g bulk powder jar.
- Fine cemented carbide powder
- Suitable for preparing multiple XRF specimens
- Supports laboratory sample preparation procedures
- Useful for chemical analysis and analytical method development
- Ideal for repeated testing and quality assurance programs
- Provides flexibility for laboratory-specific analytical methods
Select your preferred configuration before adding the product to your cart.
Certified Chemical Composition
NIST SRM 889 is a tungsten carbide-based reference material containing cobalt as a metallic binder constituent, along with tantalum and titanium associated with specialized carbide compositions.
The material is designated W75-Co9-Ta5-Ti4, reflecting its nominal tungsten, cobalt, tantalum, and titanium composition.
The following values are documented in the NIST Certificate of Analysis.
| Element | Certified Concentration (% by Weight) | Estimated Uncertainty |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt (Co) | 9.50% | ±0.15 percentage points |
| Tantalum (Ta) | 4.60% | ±0.15 percentage points |
| Titanium (Ti) | 4.03% | ±0.10 percentage points |
Additional Non-Certified Composition Information
| Element | Concentration (% by Weight) |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 6.0% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | <0.05% |
| Nickel (Ni) | <0.05% |
| Iron (Fe) | <0.05% |
| Niobium (Nb) | <0.05% |
Important: Cobalt, tantalum, and titanium are the certified elements in SRM 889. Other reported concentrations are provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as certified values. Tungsten is the principal matrix constituent but does not have a separately certified concentration.
For complete certification information and measurement uncertainties, refer to the official NIST Certificate of Analysis.
XRF Verification for Tungsten Carbide Alloys
Reliable elemental analysis is essential when testing cemented carbide materials used in industrial cutting tools, machining inserts, drilling components, and wear-resistant applications.
The cobalt content influences the binder characteristics of cemented carbide materials, while tantalum- and titanium-containing carbide phases are commonly associated with specialized hardmetal formulations designed for demanding industrial applications.
SRM 889 provides certified elemental concentrations for all three constituents, making it especially useful for verifying XRF measurement performance in complex tungsten carbide matrices.
Common XRF Applications:
- Verify cobalt measurements in cemented carbide alloys
- Verify tantalum concentrations in specialty tungsten carbide materials
- Verify titanium measurements in carbide cutting-tool grades
- Monitor handheld and benchtop XRF analyzer performance
- Evaluate analytical repeatability and measurement consistency
- Support quality control procedures in carbide manufacturing
- Check instrument performance before analyzing production samples
- Compare analytical measurements across compatible XRF instruments
- Support method verification and routine laboratory quality assurance
With three certified elements, SRM 889 offers broader elemental verification capabilities than cemented carbide reference materials containing only certified cobalt.
Applications in Tungsten Carbide Recycling
Tungsten carbide recycling operations frequently process mixed materials containing different cobalt binder concentrations and additional carbide-forming elements.
Identifying these compositional differences can be important for material classification, scrap segregation, and recycling process control.
SRM 889 is particularly relevant to XRF testing programs involving:
- Tungsten Carbide Cutting Inserts
- Cobalt-Bonded Cemented Carbide
- Titanium-Containing Carbide Grades
- Tantalum-Containing Carbide Alloys
- Mixed Tungsten Carbide Scrap
- Industrial Cutting Tools and Machining Inserts
- Hardmetal Manufacturing Materials
- Wear-Resistant Components
- Carbide Recycling and Material Recovery
Facilities processing diverse carbide grades can use SRM 889 to periodically evaluate their analyzers' measurements of cobalt, tantalum, and titanium before making material identification or sorting decisions.
Laboratory Analysis and Quality Control
In addition to routine XRF testing, the bulk powder configuration supports 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
- Verification of Cobalt, Tantalum, and Titanium Concentrations
Bulk powder can be prepared using appropriate laboratory procedures, including pressed-powder techniques, fusion, or chemical digestion where suitable for the analytical method.
The certified elemental concentrations provide useful reference points when assessing analytical results in tungsten carbide-based materials.
Material Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Reference Material | NIST SRM 889 |
| Material Description | Cemented Carbide |
| Material Designation | W75-Co9-Ta5-Ti4 |
| Matrix | Tungsten Carbide-Based Cemented Carbide |
| Physical Form | Fine Powder |
| Nominal Particle Size | 150 µm |
| Certified Elements | Cobalt (Co), Tantalum (Ta), Titanium (Ti) |
| Certified Cobalt Concentration | 9.50% |
| Certified Tantalum Concentration | 4.60% |
| Certified Titanium Concentration | 4.03% |
| Informational Carbon Concentration | 6.0% |
| 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 889 is supported by a Certificate of Analysis issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The certification was developed through a cooperative program involving NIST and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Certified Elements:
- Cobalt (Co): 9.50% ± 0.15 percentage points
- Tantalum (Ta): 4.60% ± 0.15 percentage points
- Titanium (Ti): 4.03% ± 0.10 percentage points
Certificate Date: September 5, 1988
The NIST certificate documents the certified elemental concentrations, estimated uncertainties, and additional non-certified composition information.
Important XRF Testing Considerations
SRM 889 is a powdered reference material rather than a solid metal calibration block. XRF results can be influenced by sample preparation, particle size, sample thickness, X-ray film, instrument calibration, and measurement geometry.
The prepared XRF sample cup should be tested using a compatible measurement method and consistent analytical conditions.
The certified concentrations apply to the reference material itself. Preparation in an XRF sample cup does not constitute separate NIST certification of the assembled sample cup.
For analytical quality control, compare results against the certified values while considering instrument uncertainty, sample preparation effects, and method performance.
Carbon cannot be directly measured by conventional handheld XRF analyzers. The informational carbon concentration may be relevant to laboratories performing other analytical techniques.
Why Buy Your XRF Reference Materials from Alloy Geek?
Alloy Geek specializes in handheld XRF analyzers, certified reference materials, instrument accessories, and analytical testing applications.
Our prepared XRF reference materials offer a convenient solution for customers who need certified elemental composition standards for routine analyzer verification without the additional work of preparing loose powder specimens.
Whether you're analyzing carbide scrap with a handheld XRF analyzer, verifying cutting-tool materials, or performing laboratory quality control with a benchtop system, Alloy Geek provides reference materials selected for practical industrial 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 889 today to support reliable cobalt, tantalum, and titanium measurements in tungsten carbide analysis.