The expression "hard metal" (often denoted by the "Widia" trade name) designates a product of exceptional strength formed by the fusion of tungsten carbide particles. Hard metal is manufactured for three primary applications:

- for mining and cutting tools

- for metal stretching and wire drawing applications

- for swaging or extruding applications

The main component of hard metal is tungsten carbide, which has high mechanical resistance and is also resistant to high temperatures.

Cobalt is also used in the manufacturing process (to bind the tungsten carbide particles together) and is responsible for the extremely high tenacity of hard metal.