Tungsten
Tungsten is a refractory metal with a high melting point and a very high density. It can be used in a pure form but it becomes more useful as an engineering material when alloyed with small quantities of other elements to form a group of products sometimes referred to as Tungsten Heavy Metal Alloys (WHAs). These alloys usually contain 90-97% tungsten and initial forming requires a process of pressing and sintering. Wrought shapes can then be produced however near-final-shape sintering is more common.
Tungsten Applications
Here is a list of applications where tungsten is used because of its high melting point, conductive properties, hardness and density, longevity and extremely high durability.
- Light bulbs, heating elements and nozzles on rocket engines.
- Welding applications, specifically in the gas tungsten arc welding process (also called TIG welding).
- In electronics, tungsten is used as an interconnect material in integrated circuits, between the silicon dioxide dielectric material and the transistors.
- The hardness and density of tungsten are applied in obtaining heavy metal alloys. A good example is high speed steel, which may contain as much as 18% tungsten.
- Applications requiring its high density include heat sinks, weights, counterweights, ballast keels for yachts, tail ballast for commercial aircraft, and as ballast in high level race cars.
- In armaments, tungsten, usually alloyed with nickel and iron or cobalt to form heavy alloys, is used in kinetic energy penetrators as an alternative to depleted uranium but may also be used in cannon shells, grenades and missiles.
- Its density, similar to that of gold, allows tungsten to be used in jewellery as an alternative to gold or platinum. Its hardness makes it ideal for rings that will resist scratching, are hypoallergenic and will not need polishing, which is especially useful in designs with a brushed finish.
Some of the tungsten alloys supplied by Smiths Advanced Metals. Please call +44 (0)1767 604 710 for other alloys not listed here.
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Tungsten |
93W-Ni-Fe
95W-Ni-Fe
97W-Ni-Fe |
80W-Ni-Cu
90W-Ni-Cu
95W-Ni-Cu |
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