What Is Tungsten Used For?

If you’re only somewhat familiar with tungsten, you may be wondering: what is tungsten used for, and what are the properties that make it such a useful material?

Tungsten has the highest melting point of any pure metal at 6191.6° Fahrenheit. This makes it incredibly valuable in alloying, where it is combined with other metals to increase their strength and utility.

Below, Alloys International takes a closer look at the benefits and uses of tungsten, including the unique properties that put this rare metal in such high demand.

Properties and Uses of Tungsten

Tungsten, which can be found on the periodic table as W and is also called wolfram due to its presence in the mineral wolframite, is a silvery-white metal that looks somewhat similar to stainless steel. It is naturally occurring and has a range of uses across a variety of industries, particularly industries concerned with the production of items used for high heat or electricity-conducting applications.

Tungsten has many benefits, both when it is used as a standalone metal and when it is alloyed with other metals. A solid at room temperature, tungsten can be exposed to extremely high levels of heat without losing structural integrity. Other notable characteristics of tungsten include its low vapor pressure, high density, and high tensile strength, as well as its anti-corrosive nature. In addition, tungsten is very useful for conducting electricity, and has a strong presence in fabricated electrical components.

Based on these characteristics, it’s clear to see why tungsten would have significant utility in metal alloying. By combining these properties with other metals during the alloying process, tungsten can increase strength, versatility, and durability, and make metals more resistant to acid and chemical corrosion. The alloy Tungsten-Rhenium (W-Re), for example, has improved material properties as compared to pure tungsten, most notably in regards to superplasticity. More specifically, the addition of rhenium raises the recrystallization temperature, ductility, and overall tensile strength. W-Re is used in the aerospace industry, as well as in temperature measuring and friction stir welding applications. Used to make wire products, it also serves good purpose for thermocouples, major electronics products, and furnace parts.

Some of the most common standalone uses for tungsten include:

• Use in high-temperature components like jet engines, lighting fixture filaments, and furnace parts
• Use in electricity-conducting materials like electrodes, probe pins, and electron emitters
• Use in jewelry
• Use in shipbuilding, fishing, and marine component manufacturing
• Use in radiation shielding equipment

Meanwhile, tungsten alloys have plenty of applications as well, including use in:

• Mining and petroleum industries
• Metalworking
• Military technology, armaments, and aircraft
• Medical equipment, including x-ray and oncology tools
• Dental equipment, such as dental drills
• Milling and turning tools

A tungsten alloy, like tungsten carbide or tungsten nickel iron, is a mainstay material in manufacturing of all sorts of high-heat and electricity-conducting equipment. And because of its superior properties, tungsten is currently being used in the development of future alloys, with a lot of promise on the horizon for how it can be used to further industrial progress. Currently, tungsten alloys are used to make everything from jet turbine blades to rocket engine nozzles, and are a crucial component in aviation, medical device technology, the military, and beyond.

Work with Trusted Tungsten Suppliers

Alloys International is a leading tungsten supplier, helping our customers secure high-quality tungsten and other alloys and metals for a wide range of business and manufacturing needs.

In addition to tungsten, we also offer a selection of other valuable refractory and exotic alloys, including molybdenum, zirconium, niobium, and more, plus precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, iridium, and palladium. Browse our extensive selection of refractory and exotic alloys to shop for exactly what you need.

With years of experience and specialty services designed to fulfill custom and challenging orders, Alloys International is the one to call for metal and alloy sourcing.

Have a question for our team? Please contact us for direct support.