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Key facts about tungsten

Pile of tungsten powder

Tungsten is a chemical element that belongs to the class of refractory metals. The English name for tungsten is derived from the old Swedish word for "heavy stone" and the main ore in which tungsten naturally occurs most frequently is called wolframite, derived from the German in the Middle Ages. Tungsten is characterized by its exceptionally high melting point and excellent corrosion resistance with regards to numerous other metals. In addition, this material is particularly resistant to heat and wear, allowing it to play an important role in high-temperature applications. Along with tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, and tungsten-based composites also belong to the group of refractory metals.

Plansee has been processing tungsten powder into high-performance products for various industries for over 100 years. Find out more about the properties of tungsten, its origin and procurement, the various alloys as well as all Plansee products and applications containing tungsten. 

Tungsten at Plansee

  • RMAP Compliant Procurement

  • Complete backwards integration via Global Tungsten Powders  

  • Wide-ranging product portfolio: customer-specific components or semifinished products 

  • Over 100 years of experience in tungsten processing

More information regarding tungsten can be found here:

Facts

Facts about tungsten

Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals as well as a remarkably high modulus of elasticity. Thanks to its outstanding thermal properties, tungsten can easily withstand even the highest temperatures. Tungsten also stands out for its high density and is therefore used in a wide range of industrial applications such as in the aviation and aerospace industries, manufacturing technology, medical technology, and electronics.

Atomic number 74
CAS number 7440-33-7
Atomic mass 183.84 [g/mol]
Melting point 3420 °C
Boiling point 5555 °C
Density at 20 °C 19.25 [g/cm3]
Crystal structure Body-centered cubic
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion at 20 °C
4.4 × 10-6 [m/(m*K)]
Thermal conductivity at 20 °C
164 [W/(m*K)]
Specific heat at 20 °C 0.13 [J/(g*K)]
Electrical conductivity at 20 °C 18.2 × 106 [S/m]
Specific electrical resistance at 20 °C 0.055 [(Ω*mm2)/m]
Advantages

Advantages of tungsten

Our tungsten and its alloys are used in very special industrial applications that reflect the unique properties of this material. The following sections offer insight into three of these applications:

High rigidity, high modulus of elasticity, and biocompatibility

Fine tungsten wires feature an impressive combination of high rigidity and very good biocompatibility. They can transfer high force without breaking and without permanent deformation thanks to their high rigidity combined with high yield strength. This makes them ideal for use in surgical robots, where extreme precision is needed to control the movement of miniaturized surgical instruments. The excellent surface quality of the wires extends the life of the finished cable, minimizing the risk of complications in medical applications.

Low vapor pressure, good electrical conductivity, and low thermal emissivity

Components made from tungsten and its alloys are often used in high-vacuum systems where maximum purity is required. Heating elements made from tungsten-based materials allow for high current resistance and thus the transfer of high power to achieve high temperatures. The low vapor pressure of tungsten materials prevents the furnace load from being contaminated. Tungsten is especially ideal for use as a shield pack to minimize energy loss, thanks to its low emissivity among other things.

Low sputter rate and excellent corrosion resistance

In ion implantation systems, ion source chambers and beam guidance components are often made from tungsten. These parts must withstand constant ion bombardment and keep their structural integrity over long periods of time, to ensure consistent output and reduce maintenance costs. The low sputter rate and excellent corrosion resistance make tungsten a suitable material in this application area.

Contact

If you have any questions or are looking for a suitable material composition for your application, get in touch with us!

Downloads

Material brochure & product data sheets

Would you like to learn more about tungsten? Then please see our material brochure and product data sheets here.

Material brochure: Tungsten
Product data sheet: Tungsten
Product data sheet: Tungsten-rhenium
Other materials

Further refractory metals from Plansee

4295.94
Mo
Molybdenum
73180.95
Ta
Tantalum
W-MMC
Metal Matrix Composites