Tungsten Heavy Powder, Inc.

History

The word, "tungsten" denotes a substance of high density, and is derived from the Swedish language, "tung", meaning "heavy," and "sten", meaning "stone." The chemical symbol for tungsten is W, which stands for wolfram. The name came from medieval German smelters, who found that tin ores containing tungsten had a much lower yield. It was said that the tungsten devoured the tin "like a wolf". Pure tungsten metal was first isolated by two Spanish chemists, the de Elhujar brothers in 1723.

General Information

Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal, and at temperatures over 3410°C (6170°F), has the highest tensile strength. It has excellent corrosion resistance and is only attacked slightly by most mineral acids. Tungsten is extremely environmentally friendly.

Main Tungsten properties

Atomic Number 74

Atomic Weight 183.86

Maximum Density @ 20°C (68°F) 19.3 g/cc; 0.697 lb/cu.in.

Melting Point 3410°C (6170°F)
Linear Coefficient of Expansion 4.3 x 10E-6°C

Thermal Conductivity @ 20°C 0.40 cal/cm/°C/sec

Specific Heat @ 20°C 0.032 cal/g/°C

Electrical Conductivity 31% IACS

Tensile Strength @ Room Temp. 100,000 - 500,000 psi

Tensile Strength @ 500°C (932°F) 75,000 - 194,000 psi

Tensile Strength @ 1000°C (1832°F) 50,000 - 75,000 psi

Poisson's Ratio 0.284

Hardness (Mineral) 7.5

Hardness (Vickers) 3430

Hardness (Brinell) 2570

Applications

Tungsten has become an essential material for a wide variety of applications due to its high melting point and high density. Only gold, platinum, and a few other rare and expensive metals have the same density.

Tungsten is used in two main production processes:

Press and sinter (PM industry) and
As an additive to polymers to create high-gravity compounds.

Uses in the PM Industry

Tungsten is often alloyed with nickel, copper, and iron, creating a family of materials with extremely useful properties. These alloys are fabricated by powder metallurgical techniques and are routinely machined by conventional methods such as turning, milling, grinding, polishing, drilling and tapping.

Absorption of X-rays and gamma radiation is in direct proportion to the density of the shielding material. Some tungsten alloys are more than 1.5 times as effective as lead and provide extremely efficient protection; particularly where space is limited. Such applications include radioactive source containers, syringe covers for radioactive isotope injection, collimators and shielding blocks for high-energy cancer therapy machines, and shields for oil well logging instrumentation.

Twice as heavy as steel and more than 50% heavier than lead, tungsten high-density alloys have found wide acceptance where a concentrated mass is required in a limited space for such applications as counter weights. Tungsten has a large variety of other uses, some of which are listed below.

Summary of Tungsten Heavy Alloy Applications:

Aerospace
Medical & Industrial Shielding
Weights and Counterbalances
Recreational (golf clubs, racing)
Boring bars, Grinding quills and End mill extensions
Oil Well Logging
Race Car Chassis Weight

Uses in the Plastic Industry

When Tungsten powder is mixed with suitable polymers, the process used offers many advantages:

Duplicates the characteristics, look and feel of various metals

Lowers part costs

Eliminates the need for expensive machining

Customizes color, possible plating and other finishes

Imagine a thermal or catalytic compound that feels and handles like metal; one that allows large quantities of parts to be molded economically, particularly when the part is intricate. These compounds can provide a precise balance between weight, durability and stiffness.

Die casting, machining and finishing metal parts can be cost-prohibitive and time consuming. High-gravity compounds offer greater design freedom for applications.

Summary of High-Gravity Compound Applications:

Environmentally-friendly ("green") ammunition
Sport
Cosmetic Packaging
Lawn & Garden Tools
Bathroom Fixtures
Kitchen Appliances
Dental Equipment
Inertia Pendulums
Sound-Absorbing Equipment

Tungsten Powders

Tungsten solids are sintered using virgin tungsten powder, which has a density of 5 to 8 g/cc. Only once sintered, does it obtain its high density. The following tungsten powders are available:

Virgin Powder (Used for PM applications)

Crushed Granule (Used for Chemical Acceleration & Alloying)

Crystalline (Used for Matrix & Spraying)

Prepared Powder CS (Used where High Apparent Density is required)

Now There Is A New Tungsten Powder Available!!!

SPHERICAL GRAIN HIGH-DENSITY POWDER

Tungsten powder spherical forms of W seen through an SEM magnified 200 times

This tungsten powder:

can be of any specified mesh from -30 to -200 (and/or mix by percent)

has a tap density of about 11.8 to 12.0 g/cc

is 99.98% pure tungsten (W)

has good particle morphology for easy flow and cavity filling

all at an affordable price.

OUR POWDER'S ADVANTAGES:

Due to this unique particle morphology, when mixed with polymers, the new material offers:

no separation at the point of high shear
a higher critical solid loading
a good mechanical flow characteristic for better cavity filling
excellent wetting properties

Tungsten Heavy Powder, Inc. is a recycling and recovery company. We buy your tungsten heavy alloy scrap of whatever shape, size or form and convert it into heavy tungsten powder.