Traditional materials like powdered metal or bronze are adequate for standard engines. However, Tungsten Carbide excels due to its exceptional combination of properties:
Extreme Hardness & Wear Resistance: Tungsten Carbide is one of the hardest materials available, significantly harder than hardened steel. This gives it incredible resistance to wear, recession, and micro-welding from repeated valve impacts, especially with modern unleaded fuels that offer less lubrication.
High-Temperature Strength: It maintains its structural integrity and strength at temperatures where steel would begin to soften. This is crucial in preventing valve seat deformation under extreme heat.
Excellent Corrosion Resistance: It highly resists oxidation and corrosion from hot combustion gases.
In short, while traditional seats wear down over time, leading to dropped valve clearances and lost performance, Tungsten Carbide seats vastly extend engine life and maintain peak performance for far longer.