Tungsten

Tungsten (W) – Semi-Finished Products, Alloys and Custom Components Ex Stock

Tungsten (chemical symbol W, atomic number 74) is a silvery-white to grey heavy metal from the group of refractory metals and, with a melting point of 3,407 °C, has the highest melting point of all metals – only carbon melts at a higher temperature. Hard and brittle in its raw state, tungsten can be made malleable through hammering and drawn into thin wires, for example. Besides its exceptional melting point, the material is also characterised by good thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion and high corrosion resistance.

E.WAGENER supplies tungsten in a wide range of forms, alloys and processing states, each suited to your application.

Tungsten – the All-Rounder among Metals

Well over half of the tungsten mined worldwide is processed into tungsten carbide. This is used to make hard-metal tools.

As a material, tungsten proves to be a true all-rounder here: despite its flexibility, it has the second-highest melting point of all elements (after carbon) at 3,407 °C. This property, together with its exceptionally high resistance to acids (not even attacked by hydrofluoric acid), makes it a popular material for the construction of industrial plants and chemical machinery.

Tungsten is also suitable for building resistance heating elements, manufacturing filaments (especially in high-temperature furnace construction and electrical engineering), engine components, X-ray anodes and welding electrodes. Tungsten pins can be fused into hard-to-melt glass for electrical feedthroughs. Tungsten is also used in nuclear technology.

At E.WAGENER you can get tungsten in pure form as well as an alloy, or even already processed into the semi-finished product or component you require.

Working with Tungsten Alloys

Around 80% of tungsten alloys are used in the steel industry, with roughly 10% each going to the hard-metal and electrical industries. In addition to its use in industry as a pure material, tungsten is also extremely popular in alloys. Here tungsten is particularly sought after because of its high melting point, for example in combination with molybdenum for turbine blades and in the hot-gas section of jet engines.

Alloys of the element are also popular as electrode material in the well-known tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process. The metal's high density (at 19.25 g/cm³, almost as dense as gold), combined with other, more easily machinable metals, provides a combination of the best properties of different materials.

Tungsten vs. Molybdenum

Tungsten and molybdenum are in the same group of the periodic table and are similar in many properties. However, tungsten has the significantly higher melting point and density, but is harder to machine. Molybdenum is the lighter, easier-to-process alternative where the full temperature resistance of tungsten is not required.

Get Tungsten from E.WAGENER – Pure or as a Component

At E.Wagener we offer you different purity grades of tungsten. You can choose between 90%, 95% and even >99% pure tungsten. As standard, we supply the material as powder or raw stock. Already have more specific requirements? We can also process tungsten directly into rods, wires or blocks – even sheets and foils are possible. But E.WAGENER can do even more. We also produce custom components. Here you can benefit from our extensive know-how and experience with tungsten, as we create and supply your individual parts exactly to your specifications.

Tungsten in metallic form is considered comparatively safe; however, machining tungsten carbide materials can generate dust that may be relevant to health and must be handled according to the safety data sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tungsten

What is tungsten?

Tungsten is a silvery-white to grey heavy metal with the highest melting point of all metals (3,407 °C). It is characterised by high density, good thermal conductivity and exceptional acid resistance.

What is tungsten used for?

Tungsten is processed into tungsten carbide for hard-metal tools, among other uses, and is used for resistance heating elements, filaments, welding electrodes, X-ray anodes and in nuclear technology.

Why does tungsten have such a high melting point?

At 3,407 °C, tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals and the second highest of all chemical elements after carbon – making it ideal for high-temperature applications.

What is the difference between tungsten and molybdenum?

Both metals are in the same group of the periodic table. Tungsten has the higher melting point and density, while molybdenum is easier to process.

In which purity grades and forms does E.WAGENER offer tungsten?

E.WAGENER supplies tungsten in 90%, 95% and over 99% purity – as powder, raw stock, or processed into rods, wires, blocks, sheets and foils.