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Do you have a question about the application metals in your production process?
Tungsten
W
Heat resistant, density, hardness
Tungsten, known in Dutch as wolfraam, is a gray, lustrous, and exceptionally heavy metal with the highest melting and boiling points of all metals. The only element in the periodic table with a higher melting point is carbon. Tungsten excels when it comes to heat resistance: it boasts the highest melting point of all metals at 3422°C. This makes it exceptionally suitable for applications involving extremely high temperatures.
| Properties | Tungsten has an extremely high melting point, high density, excellent corrosion resistance, heat resistance in a vacuum, and exceptional hardness. |
| Applications | Tungsten is used in filaments, X-ray tubes, electrical contacts, high-voltage conductors, heaters, tool holders, thermocouples, anodes, filaments, and cutting inserts such as milling wheels. |
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Tungsten and its Exceptional Heat Resistance
Tungsten is renowned for its exceptionally high melting point of 3,422°C, the highest of all metals. This heat resistance makes it ideal for applications that must withstand extreme temperatures, such as furnace components and industrial heating elements. Additionally, tungsten has a low coefficient of expansion (4.5, compared to 29.3 for lead), resulting in excellent dimensional stability. This makes the metal practically indestructible and suitable for prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Some commonly used tungsten alloys include W90NiFeMo, W90NiFe, W92.5NiFe, and W97NiFe.
Tungsten as Radiation Shielding in the Medical Sector
Thanks to its high density of 19.25 g/cm³ and non-toxic nature, tungsten is widely used in the medical sector. It is employed for radiation shielding in X-ray technology and as protection against radioactive radiation, offering a more effective and safer alternative to lead. Due to its high absorption capacity for X-rays and gamma rays, tungsten is used in collimators and protective shields. Moreover, the metal can be excellently machined through CNC turning and milling, maintaining its dimensional stability and surface quality. With properties such as high wear resistance, thermal conductivity, and burn-off resistance, tungsten remains an indispensable material in both industrial and medical applications.
Frequently asked questions
Wolfraam has a higher melting point and higher density. Molybdeen is lighter and often easier to machine, making it an efficient alternative for many heat-resistant applications.
Pure Wolfram is virtually pure metal. Tungsten heavy Alloy is a high-density material (e.g. W-Ni-Fe) that is more machinable and is used for counterweights and radiation shielding.
Wolfram is available as a semi-finished product in the form of rod, plate, wire, and foil. Due to its hardness, we also supply customer-specific parts that are machined according to drawings, as standard machining is a challenge for many workshops.
Wolfraam has a melting point of approximately 3420 °C. However, in an atmospheric environment, oxidation begins from 400–500 °C. For higher temperatures, Wolfraam is used in vacuum or inert gas.
Alternative metals
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22
Titanium Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all elements.
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40
Zirconium Zirconium is a silver-gray transition metal with excellent corrosion resistance, making it ideal for use in aggressive environments.
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28
Nickel Nickel is a shiny silvery-white metal that is used worldwide in steel.
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27
Cobalt Cobalt is a silver-gray, hard metal with unique magnetic properties and a rich history.
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72
Hafnium Hafnium is a silvery, ductile metal that is extracted from zirconium ores.
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73
Tantalum Tantalum is a gray, lustrous metal known for its exceptional corrosion resistance in aggressive environments.
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41
Niobium Niobium is a lustrous gray metal known for its toughness and excellent chemical resistance.
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42
Molybdenum Molybdenum is a hard, shiny silver-colored metal with a very high melting point of 2623°C.
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