Tungsten

About Tungsten (W)

Tungsten is an exceptionally hard, lustrous, and silver-white metal known for its outstanding physical and chemical properties, making it indispensable in various industrial sectors. Tungsten exists not only in its pure form but is also widely utilized in various alloys and compounds, such as tungsten carbide (WC) and tungsten alloys, further expanding its range of applications.

Primary Forms of Tungsten and Their Characteristics

1. Pure Tungsten

• Physical Properties:

  • Highest Melting Point: 3422°C (6192°F), the highest among all metals.
  • Lowest Vapor Pressure: Exhibits the most stable properties at high temperatures.
  • Highest Tensile Strength: Demonstrates excellent toughness and durability.
  • Lowest Thermal Expansion Coefficient: Maintains stable shape and dimensions under temperature fluctuations.

• Primary Applications:

  • Electronic Components: Used in manufacturing electrical contacts and interconnects due to its superior conductivity and high-temperature resistance.
  • High-Temperature Environments: Such as heating elements in high-temperature furnaces and instrument components.

• Tungsten Metal Products:

  • Types: Protective aprons, spheres, bars, blades, boats, cans/grains, collimators, assemblies, crucibles, electrodes, flanges, furnaces/heaters, penetrators, plates, powders, ropes, sheets, shielding/protection, countersinks, wires.
  • Purity: ≥99.99%

2. Tungsten Alloys

• Composition and Characteristics:

  • Typically mixed with metals like rhenium (Re), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) to enhance toughness and workability.
  • High Density: Suitable for applications requiring substantial weight, such as balancing masses and recoil devices.

• Primary Applications:

  • Lighting Industry: Such as incandescent lamp filaments, utilizing its high melting point and high electrical resistance.
  • Arc Welding Electrodes: Due to its high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance.
  • Aerospace: Used in manufacturing components that withstand extreme conditions, like rocket nozzles and spacecraft structural parts.
  • Radiation Shielding: Used to shield radiation sources, such as in X-ray machines and nuclear reactors.

• Tungsten Alloy Products:

  • Types: Al-W, Fe-W, Mo-W, Ta-W, W-Ag, WC, WC/Co, WC/Co/Cr, WC/Ni, WC/Ni/Cr, WC-Co, WC-Ni, W-Cu, W-La, W-Ni, W-Re, W-Rh, etc.
  • Forms: Bars, electrodes, plates, powders, etc.

3. Tungsten Carbide (WC)

• Chemical Properties:

  • One of the hardest known compounds, second only to diamond.
  • Exhibits high wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

• Primary Applications:

  • Cutting Tools: Such as drill bits, milling cutters, and turning tools, due to their excellent cutting performance and long lifespan.
  • Mold Manufacturing: Used in molds for plastics, rubber, and composite materials.
  • Armor-Piercing: Used in the defense industry for manufacturing lightweight, high-strength armor materials.
  • Medical Instruments: Such as high-precision surgical tools.

4. Tungsten Compounds and Other Forms

• Tungstate Compounds (e.g., sodium tungstate, ammonium tungstate): Used in chemical catalysts and dye production.
• Tungsten Powders: Used in 3D printing and powder metallurgy processes to manufacture high-performance components.
• Tungsten Evaporation Materials:
  • Types: W, Co/W, Ni/W, Ti/W, W/Ti, V/W, Zr/W, WO₃, WC, WSi₂, WS₂, WSe₂, WTe₂, etc.
  • Purity: ≥99.9%
• Micron and Nanometer Tungsten Materials:
  • Specifications:
    • W: 50nm / 1000μm
    • WC: 80nm / >30μm / 1000μm
    • WS₂: 60nm / 300μm
    • Cu/W: 80nm
    • WO₃: 0.8-2.5μm / 8-25μm powders
• Tungsten Optical Products:
  • Types: CdWO₄/PbWO₄ single crystal substrates, Nd:KGW, Yb:KGW
  • Sputter Targets: Tungsten Sputter Targets

Tungsten Products Application Fields

Tungsten, with its diverse forms and exceptional performance, is widely used in the following areas:

1. Electronics and Electrical Engineering

   • Applications: Electrical contacts, filaments, electron tubes, etc.
   • Characteristics: Superior conductivity and high-temperature resistance make it indispensable in electronic components.

2. Mechanical Manufacturing

   • Applications: Cutting tools, drilling tools, molding tools.
   • Characteristics: Tungsten carbide tools significantly enhance production efficiency and tool lifespan.

3. Aerospace and Defense

   • Applications: Balancing masses, recoil devices, armor-piercing materials.
   • Characteristics: High density and strength improve equipment performance and safety.

4. Energy and Environment

   • Applications: High-temperature furnaces, nuclear reactors.
   • Characteristics: As a high-temperature and corrosion-resistant material, it ensures the stable operation of equipment.

5. Medical and Scientific Research

   • Applications: Medical instruments, X-ray machines, mass spectrometers.
   • Characteristics: Provides high precision and reliability to meet the stringent demands of medical and scientific research.

Recycling and Sustainability

Tungsten is a recyclable material, and its high value coupled with limited natural resources makes its recycling crucial. Recycling tungsten reduces resource waste and lowers production costs and environmental impact. Recycling typically involves collecting waste tungsten, purifying it, and reprocessing it to meet industrial demands, promoting sustainable resource utilization.

Tungsten Video