In the past, people have always aimed to use precious metals to produce stronger and better materials. One of the rare materials named Tungsten is particularly used in many industries for its highly valued properties. The reason why Tungsten is so valued is that it possesses a high resistance to heat, corrosion and it’s extremely durable under duress.
The metal, also known as wolfram, has the density of 19.35 g/cm³, with its melting point is 3410.0 ℃ or 3683.15 K, 6170.0 °F, and boiling point is at 5660.0 ℃ or 5933.15 K, 10220.0 °F. For these reasons, this rare metal has found its way into many appliances and industries as the main component or an alloy to various products. Tungsten Heavy Alloy is an excellent choice for vibration damping, centrifugal compensations, making inertia sensors etc.
– Alloys
Even though Tungsten can’t be found in its pure form in nature. A lot of times it is used as a pure metal, but only after extraction, or it can be combined with many other metals to form alloys. Since Tungsten alloys are strong, resistant to corrosion and wear, are flexible and transfer electricity when needed. For example, tungsten-steel combination alloys are the materials that are used in the production of rocket engines. Its high heat resistant property makes it one of the best materials to use it in such products. There are also super-alloys that contain Tungsten.
They are used in the production of turbines, coatings and many different products that need to be wear-resistant. The best quality darts use Tungsten and nickel alloys.
– Electrical & Electronics industries
The single biggest use of Tungsten today is in the production of the common light bulbs. Its high melting point combined with low vapor pressure make it perfect for the light bulb filament. Tungsten is also used as filaments in cathode tubes and vacuum tubes.
Since Tungsten also has amazing conductive properties, it’s also used in electrodes, for example in an electron microscope. Tungsten’s high tolerance for heat also makes it a perfect metal or alloy in electronic appliances. A good example is an integrated circuit and for X-ray machines.
– Other applications
Besides the applications of the Tungsten metal that are mentioned before, tungsten has even more. Tungsten’s thermal expanding capabilities are similar to borosilicate glass and for that reason, it can be shapedinto making glass-metal seals. Tungsten can also see a high use in the modern design of jewelry. It can substitute platinum and gold due to its similar metal density as gold.
Additionally, in the near future, we could see Tungsten in energy saving technology as its oxide has two special properties (polycondensation and intercalation).
All in all, Tungsten is one of the best rare metals to use to make reliable products that will have a longer lifespan and will be stronger if imbued with Tungsten. The metal will continue to impress and find new uses in future technology because it is very hard to ignore the fact that the metal alone provides the highest resistance to heat when it comes to metals.