What is tungsten used for?
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What is tungsten used for?
Current uses are as electrodes, heating elements and field emitters, and as filaments in light bulbs and cathode ray tubes. Tungsten is commonly used in heavy metal alloys such as high speed steel, from which cutting tools are manufactured. It is also used in the so-called 'superalloys' to form wear-resistant coatings.
Tungsten was widely used in the filament of older incandescent light bulbs but has been phased out in many countries. This is because they are not very energy efficient; they produce much more heat than light.
Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals and is alloyed with other metals to increase its strength. Tungsten and its alloys are used in many high-temperature applications, such as arc welding electrodes and heating elements in high-temperature furnaces.
Tungsten carbide is extremely hard and important to the metal processing, mining and petroleum industries. It is made by mixing tungsten powder and carbon powder and heating it to 2200°C. It makes excellent cutting and drilling tools, including a new "painless" dental drill that spins at ultra-high speeds.
Calcium tungstate and magnesium tungstate are widely used in fluorescent lighting.
