Comparison of Cobalt-based, Silicon-based, and Tungsten Carbide Wire Drawing Dies: How to choose the most suitable drawing die for your drawing needs?
In the metal wire manufacturing process, the wire drawing die is the core component that determines product quality and production efficiency. Facing changing market demands and process challenges, selecting the appropriate die material is crucial. Here, SOMEBETTER compares three mainstream die materials: Cobalt-based, Silicon-based, and Tungsten Carbide.
1. Parameter Comparison
| Comparison Item |
Cobalt-Based PCD Dies |
Silicon-Based PCD Dies |
Tungsten Carbide Dies |
| Wear Resistance |
Extremely high, uniform wear due to micro diamond powder + cobalt binder |
Less than cobalt-based; better thermal stability with silicon binder |
Good (WC + Co), but inferior to PCD materials |
| Life Time |
300–500 times longer than TC (for copper wires); decreases at high temp (>650°C) |
Less than Co base; thermally stable up to ≤1000°C, suitable for continuous high-temp work |
Short (e.g., for carbon steel wire only 1/20–1/60 of PCD); good toughness |
| Material Properties |
Diamond + cobalt; good thermal conductivity and machinability; prone to graphitization at high temp |
Diamond + silicon; more stable and corrosion resistant, but harder to process |
WC + Co; low cost, easy to machine (e.g., YG3X/YG8 grades) |
2. Typical Application Scenarios
| Application Field |
Recommended Die Material |
Reason |
| High-speed Copper/Aluminum Cable Drawing |
TC or Cobalt-based |
Good toughness and impact resistance. |
| Welding Wire & Stainless Steel Drawing |
Cobalt-based / TC |
Corrosion-resistant and durable. |
| Thick Wire Drawing (>2mm) |
TC / Cobalt-based |
Shock resistance and cost-effective. |
| High-temp / Corrosive Environments |
Cobalt / Silicon-based |
Can withstand extreme conditions and extend service life. |
3. SOMEBETTER’s Recommendation
High temperature scenario: priority silicon-based PCD
Core requirement: Extreme working condition tolerance (temperature resistance ≥ 1000 ℃, corrosion resistance)
Applicable molds: silicon-based PCD dies (such as nickel-based alloy wires) or ceramic dies (such as aircraft carrier arresting cables), with compression angles accurate to 12 ° -14 °
Low temperature scenario: Cobalt-based PCD offers high cost-effectiveness (for electronics/wires and cables)
Large size wire: Tungsten carbide wire drawing dies are more economical (for construction/machinery)
Wire and cable industry:
Core requirements: High efficiency continuous production, moderate precision (error ≤ 0.1mm)
Applicable wire drawing dies: mainly cobalt-based PCD dies, suitable for copper, aluminum, and alloy wires (diameter 0.5-5mm), with a lifespan of over 300 times that of tungsten carbide dies
Automobile and Machinery Manufacturing:
Core requirement: Balance between wear resistance and toughness, suitable for large-sized wires (diameter ≤ 45mm)
Applicable wire drawing dies: mainly made of hard alloy molds (such as YG8 grade), with low cost and impact resistance, and a lifespan of about 1/20-1/60 of PCD dies.
4. Conclusion
There is no ‘best wire drawing die’, only ‘most suitable die’!
Before choosing a wire drawing dies, you need to consider:
Wire material (copper, aluminum, steel, stainless steel)
Wire diameter range
Production and equipment speed
Mold replacement frequency
To conduct a comprehensive evaluation and select the most suitable wire drawing dies.
