WT 20 is a tungsten alloy doped with thoriumoxide which is mainly used as an electrode material.
Advantages compared to pure tungsten:
- higher recrystallization temperature
- higher thermal stability
- lower electron emission work
- better machinability
Disadvantage:
Typical areas of application:
- TIG welding electrodes
- electrodes for discharge lamps in the lighting industry
- electrodes for plasma melting, plasma cutting, plasma spraying (thermal spraying)
- emission cathodes for electron tubes