A good all-rounder. Material properties of tungsten.
Tungsten belongs to the group of metals with a high melting point (also called refractory metals). Refractory metals are metals that have a higher melting point than platinum (1772 °C). In refractory metals, the binding energy between the individual atoms is particularly high. Refractory metals are also characterized by a high melting point coupled with a low vapor pressure, good high-temperature stability and in the case of molybdenum- and tungsten-based materials, a very high modulus of elasticity. They are also typically characterized by a low coefficient of thermal expansion and relatively high density.
Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals as well as a remarkably high modulus of elasticity. In general, its properties are similar to those of molybdenum. These two metals are located in the same group in the periodic table. However, some of the properties of tungsten are more pronounced than they are in molybdenum. Thanks to its outstanding thermal properties, tungsten can easily withstand even the most intense heat.
We are able to influence the properties of our tungsten and its alloys by varying the type and quantity of alloying elements that we add as well as the production process we employ.
We primarily use doped tungsten materials. For WVM we add small quantities of potassium. Potassium has a positive effect on the mechanical properties of tungsten, especially at high temperatures. The addition of La2O3 ensures a decrease of the electron work function along with better mechanical workability, making tungsten suitable for use as a cathode material.
We add rhenium in order to increase the ductility of our tungsten. Copper increases the material's electrical conductivity. Thanks to their good workability, you can also use our heavy metal alloys for complex geometries. They can be used as shielding material or as damping and absorption components, for example.