Tungsten or Wolframite (Intermediate W-Mo alloy) is the most important of all the refractory metals and is classified as one of the platinum group of metals. Tungsten has the highest melting point (6510°C) of all elements except carbon in the form of a graphite whisker.
Tungsten is primarily used as an alloying agent in high speed steel and other tool steels. As an alloy, tungsten increases the fatigue strength, lightens the weight, and increases the red-hardness of high speed steels. High speed steels alloys with tungsten are used for the manufacture of cutting tools for all metals, woods, and plastics.
Tungsten also finds application in welding and in oxygen steelmaking in the form of ferro-tungsten, tungsten carbide and tungsten bronze. It is often used in alloys in the form of tungsten carbide particles, which are embedded in a softer metal such as nickel or cobalt.
Tungsten is also used in electronics, particularly in integrated circuits and small transistors and capacitors. The reason for its widespread use is that it has an electrical resistance which is higher than any other metals at room temperature, so tungsten is the most popular material for making resistors.
Tungsten has excellent wear resistance due to its high strength and hardness, and is therefore used in wear-resistant parts such as in maching tools. It is also used in specialty steels, as well as alloys with zinc, copper, and iron, in order to increase the wear resistance of a given alloy.
Tungsten is also used as a material for heavy duty armor, so that it would be able to protect against various forms of attack. It is often used in tanks and other military vehicles, as well as in civilian vehicles. Its excellent wear resistance is particularly useful in this application.
In addition to its many uses in manufacturing and industry, tungsten is also used in jewelry, coins, and medallions. Its unique properties make it an excellent choice for items that need to stay polished for a long time.
Tungsten is a valuable resource, and is often mined for its many potential uses. Because of its excellent wear resistance, it is often recovered from recycled industrial products.
There are many different grades of tungsten, and it is essential to know the grade of tungsten before purchasing it. As pure tungsten is very expensive, it is usually alloyed with other metals to reduce the cost.
