As the owner or operator of a manufacturing plant, you probably order certain tungsten parts and equipment from a local tungsten supplier. But how much do you really know about tungsten? Here are five interesting facts about this heavy metal.
Tungsten has a very high melting point.
Tungsten does not melt until it reaches 3422 degrees C or 6192 degrees F. For comparison sake, iron melts around 1510 degrees C, or 2750 degrees F. Because tungsten has a very high melting point, it is often used in industrial equipment that is used to melt other metals. You can then use these machines confidently, knowing that the machine itself will remain solid and in good shape in spite of the heat.
Tungsten is usually used in alloys.
In spite of its high melting point, tungsten is pretty soft when used on its own. So, most parts made from tungsten are actually made from an alloy of tungsten. The metal may be combined with iron to make tungsten steel, for example. This material has a higher melting point than ordinary steel, but it is easier to form and much harder than pure tungsten. Other tungsten alloys are with nickle or cobalt; these are usually used for defense purposes and in missiles.
Tungsten is an earth-friendly material.
Tungsten is not very inert metal. In other words, it does not react very easily with other chemicals that it comes into contact with. For this reason, tungsten is pretty safe for the environment. It can cause health damage if it is inhaled, however, so people need to wear protective masks when working around tungsten dust.
Tungsten comes from all over the world.
Tungsten is not a common metal, but there are sources all over the world. Most tungsten used in industrial applications comes from mines in China, Bolivia, Great Britain, and Portugal. Usually, the minerals huebnerite and wolframite are first harvested. These minerals contain some tungsten, which can be extracted from them by exposing the minerals to hydrogen or carbon.
Tungsten carbide is cut with diamonds.
Tungsten carbide is the tungsten alloy that is usually used to make drill bits and blades. You may wonder how such a hard material can be cut into such precise forms. This is done with diamonds, which are harder and stronger than the tungsten carbide.
Now that you know more about tungsten, you will have an easier time figuring out what you need when you order tungsten parts.
Share11 April 2018
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