Titanium Tungsten Refining
Titanium tungsten refining is a process that uses either electricity or heat to reduce titanium tungsten ore into a more useable form. The end material is usually a powder that can be applied in a variety of applications. Titanium tungsten ore is incredibly tough to work with, because it melts at temperatures around 9000 degrees Celsius. However, this melting temperature is greatly reduced by refining.
Different refining techniques are used depending on the type of application. For example, when creating fine thermally sprayed coatings, the tungsten ore might be heated in an electric furnace to high temperatures while oxygen is slowly added. This oxidizing process melts the tungsten and separates it from titanium, resulting in high-grade tungsten powder that is used as a coating.
When producing titanium tungsten wire or tubing, high-grade ore is crushed and heated in a hydrogen-rich environment to its melting point. This is then cooled and extruded into wire or tubing, depending on the application. This is the preferred technique for producing highly-responsive titanium tungsten products.
The refinement of titanium tungsten is an expensive process due to the high temperatures involved, but the end result can be applied to a variety of applications. For example, many electrical components require titanium tungsten components, such as motors in computers and other electronics, as well as in automotive and aerospace industries. It is also commonly used as a coating to protect metal from corrosion and oxidation.
The refining of titanium tungsten is a complex and precise process, but its main advantage is that it produces a unique material with a variety of applications. After refinement, tungsten is incredibly durable and offers a higher conductivity than other materials. This makes it ideal for use in the electrical industry and for protective coatings. Its excellent workability also makes it a much-desired material in many other industries, including aerospace and automotive.
